Fig. 7

Slow dynamics. We choose class SN/SH c2s (left panel) as an example for classes in which the silent state is outside the limit cycle. In A it can be observed that the projections of the oscillations on the x-axis can be separated from that of the silent state. This is not true for classes in which the silent state is encircled by the limit cycle, as in class SN/SH c2b (right panel). For this class the projection of the oscillations on the x-axis cannot be separated by that of the silent state (B). This separation becomes possible if we use, instead of the x-variable of the bursting trajectory, the distance of the latter from the silent state (\(\sqrt{(x-x_{s})^{2}+y^{2}}\)) (C–D). In C and D we added in red the z-nullcline