Synchronization induced by delayed higher-order interactions in a memristive Chialvo network

This study investigates the impact of delayed higher order interactions on synchronization in a globally coupled network of memristive Chialvo neurons. Departing from conventional models that focus solely on pairwise interactions, we employ a simplicial complex framework to incorporate second-order (triadic) couplings, thus capturing the essential features of genuine non-pairwise dynamics. Two distinct forms of delayed triadic interactions are analyzed: (i) electrical and (ii) field-based couplings. By providing a systematic, side-by-side comparison of delayed electrical vs. field triadic couplings in a memristive neuronal network, our results reveal that delayed higher order electrical interactions markedly enhance synchronization and give rise to a delay-induced resonance phenomenon, where the synchrony threshold exhibits a periodic reduction as delay increases. Depending on the strength of the pairwise coupling, these interactions lead the network either toward oscillatory synchronization or to a synchronized amplitude death state. In contrast, delayed higher order field couplings do not affect the global onset of synchronization, which remains solely determined by the pairwise coupling strength. Nonetheless, both coupling scenarios produce rich spatiotemporal structures in the form of synchronized clusters, exhibiting either time-lagged or nearly anti-phase dynamics. Together, these results identify delayed higher order interactions as a tunable mechanism for shaping and controlling collective dynamics, with direct implications for synchronization theory, memristive neuronal models, and neuromorphic architectures.