The refractory period matters: unifying mechanisms of macroscopic brain waves

The relationship between complex, brain oscillations and the dynamics of individual neurons is poorly understood. Here we utilize Maximum Caliber, a dynamical inference principle, to build a minimal, yet general model of the collective (mean-field) dynamics of large populations of neurons. In agreement with previous experimental observations, we describe a simple, testable mechanism, involving only a single type of neuron, by which many of these complex oscillatory patterns may emerge. Our model predicts that the refractory period of neurons, which has been previously neglected, is essential for these behaviors.