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Content archived on 2022-12-23

Synchronization of biological oscillators: experiments, analysis and modelling

Objective

It is proposed to reveal how could a series of nonlinear phenomena like synchronization, multistability, be involved in adaptation processes and information processing in systems of biological oscillators. The conceptual basis of the work lies in biophysical theory and modelling. The investigations will in part involve numerical and analogue electronic experiments on physiologically motivated models, and in part biological experiments with data analysis. It is supposed to focus especially on the conditions for the generation and entrainment of specified oscillatory modes originating from deterministic and stochastic dynamics.

In Nature, possible advantages of such multi-mode organization may include:
(i) increased sensitivity via stochastic (and coherence) resonance;
(ii) partial synchronization between modes, leading to different operating regimes;
(iii) expanded scales for acquiring and processing information of complex structure.

Coupled dynamical systems synthesized from simpler, low-dimensional units will be also considered - a building-up approach that can be used to create novel systems whose behaviour is richer and more flexible than the that of the building blocks but whose analysis and control remain tractable. It is proposed to extend the approach to the modelling of spatially extended systems in the expectation that dominant features of the underlying constituents will be retained. In the framework of this problem, a study of common and distinct properties of noisy intrinsic and noise-induced oscillations will be performed. To study stochastic synchronization and the complex responses of biological systems it is planned to develop new methods based on wavelet analysis and return times. The advantage of such approach is that it can be applied to short, non-stationary data sets. The scaling properties of interspike interval series will be investigated to estimate encoding capability and the extent of multi-mode interaction. The applicable usages of our research range from renal and cardiovascular blood flow regulation to hormonal and neuronal systems.

Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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Coordinator

Potsdam University
EU contribution
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Address
Am Neuen Palais 10
14415 Potsdam
Germany

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Participants (6)