In the first half of this paper, some general ideas will be developed on how to approach mathematically large systems of coupled limit-cycle oscillators. Two representative reduction techniques, namely, the phase reduction and the center-manifold reduction will be presented for a prototypal system of biological cell assembly with periodic activity. The evolution equation derived through each reduction method is further classified into three groups according to the range of the oscillator coupling (i.e. local, global and intermediate). As a consequence, six classes of model equations are obtained. In the second half of the paper, some new results from our recent study on non-locally coupled oscillators will be reported, and the generation of anomalous turbulent fluctuations obeying a power law will be discussed in some detail.
Dead zones and phase reduction of coupled oscillators
