Schematic representation of the probabilistic update of cell state in the network model. White and black blocks represent active and relaxed cells, respectively. The gray lines linking the central cell to its four neighbors represent the coupling strength (g) with the line thickness being proportional to coupling strength. The probability of spontaneous activation of the middle cell is pa = 0.001. (a) The value of g is small and this weak coupling only slightly increases the total probability of the cell becoming active, which is p = pa + 2 × g =0.021. In this example, the cell is not activated. (b) The value of g is larger and strong coupling significantly increases the total probability of the cell becoming active which is p = pa + 2 × g =0.101 resulting in an activation of the cell.