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Large deviations, dynamics and phase transitions in large stochastic heterogeneous neural networks

We analyze the macroscopic behavior of multi-populations randomly connected neural networks with interaction delays. Similar to cases occurring in spin glasses, we show that the sequences of empirical measures satisfy a large deviation principle, and converge towards a self-consistent non-Markovian process. The proof differs in that we are working in infinite-dimensional spaces (interaction delays), non-centered interactions and multiple cell types. The limit equation is qualitatively analyzed, and we identify a number of phase transitions in such systems upon changes in delays, connectivity patterns and dispersion, particularly focusing on the emergence of non-equilibrium states involving synchronized oscillations.