Event Synchronization applied to complex systems

• Grant number: 25/23909-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: February 08, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Thomas Kaue Dal Maso Peron
• Grantee: Felipe Carneiro Machado
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação (ICMC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This scientific initiation project proposes the study and application of the Event Synchronization (ES) techniquein complex systems, specifically in two distinct domains: neuroscience and environmental analysis.ES emerges as a solution for analyzing binary and sparse time series, where traditional correlation metricsare unable to identify significant relationships between synchronized events.The project will be developed in two main applications. First, we will use. First, we will use electroencephalogram (EEG) data from48 children (24 with Autism Spectrum Disorder and 24 from the control group)to construct functional brain networks through ES, followed by supervised learning classificationto identify distinctive neurological characteristics of ASD. Second, we will applythe technique to data on fire outbreaks provided by INPE, developing null models basedon Poisson processes to detect anomalies and periods of significant synchronization betweenfire outbreaks in different regions. The methodology involves computational implementation ofES in Python, signal processing, construction of complex networks, feature extraction,and application of classification models. We expect to develop innovative technological tools,train human capital specialized in complex networks and data analysis, and identifyfunctional markers for ASD diagnosis and anomalous patterns in fires. (AU)