Figure 4. Network topologies that simulate realistic resynchronization dynamics have a denser network in the SCN core, a sparser network in the shell, and strong connections from the core to the shell.

Of the 1320 network topologies tested, those resulting in realistic resynchronization dynamics (bright red boxes) had dense connections (lines) between cells (dots) within the core region (red), but not the shell (blue). The representative network shown in Figure 3 is the second entry in the first row of model networks shown here. Networks with stronger connections from the core to the shell (arrow from red to blue regions) resynchronized like cells within the SCN. Networks were varied in regional topology (rows) and the strength of coupling between regions (columns). The graphical labels above the first row indicate the strength (white arrow for full strength, transparent for zero strength; red wedge at full height indicates full strength connections from core to shell; blue wedge height indicates strength of connections from shell to core).