Dense and distributed neuropeptide network in the nerve net of Hydra vulgaris
Fig 7
Hydra´s neuropeptide network can implement attractor states.
A. Activity of one of the network nodes (en) across different initial starting points demonstrating a dynamical split into two different final states depending on the initial input towards the network. B. Representative trajectories of the recurrent dynamical system starting from different initial conditions, projected into the first three principal components of the network’s state space. Each trajectory is shown in a different color. Despite diverse starting points, trajectories converge toward two distinct terminal regions, reflecting the multistable nature of the system. Axes correspond to the reduced state-space dimensions (x₁ = PC1, x₂ = PC2, x₃ = PC3). C. Shows a pseudo-energy measure for the final steady states reached from a range of initial conditions. The resulting landscape is visualized in the reduced state space defined by the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2). Brighter regions indicate lower relative pseudo-energy (more stable attractor basins). The landscape reveals two distinct basins of attraction, consistent with the presence of multiple stable equilibrium states supported by the dense and recurrent architecture of the neuropeptide signaling network. Axes correspond to the reduced state-space dimensions (x₁ = PC1, x₂ = PC2).