Modulation of contractions in the small intestine indicate desynchronization via supercritical Andronov–Hopf bifurcation

The small intestine is covered by a network of coupled oscillators, the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). These oscillators synchronize to generate rhythmic phase waves of contraction. At points of low coupling, oscillations desynchronise, frequency steps occur and every few waves terminates as a dislocation. The amplitude of contractions is modulated at frequency steps. The phase difference between contractions at a frequency step and a …