Topic: cross-correlation cost

We adapt nonlinear optimal control theory (OCT) to control oscillations and network synchrony and apply it to models of neural population dynamics. Conventionally, OCT requires a target trajectory. This requirement may be overly restrictive for oscillatory targets since the exact trajectory shape including amplitude and phase might not be relevant. To overcome this limitation, we introduce three alternative cost functionals to target oscillations and synchrony without specifying a reference trajectory. A controlled nonlinear dynamical system with state $x$ and control $u$ is defined by $$\dot