Understanding Synchrony and Stochasticity in Coupled Neuronal and Genetic Oscillators.

摘要

Coupled biological oscillators form the basis of much decision making in humans as well as the animal world. Oscillations typically occur biochemically within a cell, or through cell signals using changes in the cells electrical activity. Here, we seek to understand these processes using mathematical modeling. The work is computational, but based on careful consideration of biological data. This allows us to derive general principles that can be widely applied to many systems, both biological and non-biological. Our work also uses cutting edge computational techniques, which also can be widely applied. Our original proposal of two years was cut to one. Nevertheless, we have made extraordinary progress on the aims of the grant. Two papers have been published in PNAS. Additionally, another paper has appeared, and two more are in progress.