Branching process at criticality — power-law size and duration distributions
Parameters
Avalanches logged0
Mean size—
Max size—
RegimeCritical
Branching process: Each active neuron activates σ descendants on average. At σ=1 (critical): avalanche sizes ~ P(s) ∝ s⁻³/² (power law). σ<1: subcritical, exponential cutoff. σ>1: supercritical, runaway. Criticality maximizes dynamic range and information transmission.