Mathematical Modeling of the Nervous System of the Leech

这个IGMS项目将深化和扩大皮卡尔·考恩在普渡大学系从事数学神经科学研究的准备工作。克里斯·萨利教授和她的博士后布赖恩·伯瑞尔和布伦达·莫斯。萨利教授的团队研究了行为可塑性的细胞和分子机制，特别是联想学习和非联想学习，使用药用水蚤作为模式生物。考恩建议将该项目的一年时间花在萨利的实验室里，观察所用的实验技术，学习学习的基本细胞和分子机制，与生物学家密切合作，开发过程的数学和计算模型，分析模型的动力学，与生物学家合作理解模型的预测，并使用预测来加深对所涉及的细胞和分子机制的理解，或者设计实验来测试新的假设。该项目将发展考恩和普渡大学生物学家之间的密切工作关系，预计这将导致成功的跨学科合作。建议研究的特定细胞机制，即水蚤神经系统中S细胞和P细胞之间的相互作用，既简单到足以进行详细研究，也代表了无脊椎动物和高等动物(包括人类)中一类重要的神经元相互作用。该项目以学习为中心，包括考恩在神经生物学和建模领域的学习，以及他的合作者对一些相关数学和建模的学习。此外，2004年春季，考恩公司将在普渡大学生物系开设一门课程，内容涉及对神经系统进行建模的微分方程式和动力系统，适合生物学或其他科学专业的高级本科生或初级研究生。此外，考恩将在2004年夏天指导两名本科生进行与神经系统建模有关的研究项目。该项目将为考恩与普渡大学的神经生物学家合作开始研究提供基础，并指导研究生和本科生，包括女性和未被充分代表的少数群体的成员。该IGMS项目由MPS多学科活动办公室(OMA)和数学科学部(DMS)联合支持。

This IGMS project will deepen and extend the preparation of PI Carl Cowen to undertake research in mathematical neuroscience by working in the Purdue University Dept. of Biological Sciences with Prof. Chris Sahley and her postdocs Brian Burrell and Brenda Moss. Professor Sahley's group studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of behavioral plasticity, especially associative learning and non-associative learning using the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, as a model organism. Cowen proposes to spend the year of the project working in Sahley's lab, observing the experimental techniques used, learning about the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning, working closely with the biologists in developing mathematical and computational models of the processes, analyzing the dynamics of the models, working with the biologists to understand the models' predictions, and using the predictions to deepen understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved or design experiments to test new hypotheses. The project will develop the close working relationships between Cowen and biologists at Purdue that are expected to lead to successful interdisciplinary collaboration. The specific cellular mechanisms proposed for study, interactions between S-cells and P-cells in the neurosystem of the leech, are both simple enough to afford detailed investigation and also representative of an important class of neuronal interactions in both invertebrates and higher animals, including humans. The project centers on learning, including Cowen's learning in the area of neurobiology and modeling and the learning of some related mathematics and modeling by his collaborators. In addition, in Spring 2004, Cowen will offer a course in the Purdue Biology Department on the differential equations and dynamical systems involved in modeling neuronal systems that will be suitable for advanced undergraduates or beginning graduate students in biology or other sciences. Moreover, Cowen will direct two undergraduate students during summer of 2004 in research projects involved with modeling neurosystems. This project willprovide the foundation for Cowen to begin research in collaboration with Purdue's neurobiologists and to mentor graduate and undergraduate students, including women and members of underrepresented minority groups, in mathematical neuroscience.This IGMS project is jointly supported by the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) and the Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS).