Mathematical Sciences: Mathematical Modeling of Transductions of Somatosensory Stimuli

小行星9404517 研究者和他的同事们进行研究，通过模拟皮肤受体（Pacinian corpuscle_PC）和皮肤，建立对哺乳动物触觉系统中机械传导的定量理解。 他们开发了数学方法来确定通过PC的胶囊，其机械过滤器的应变传输，并为PC的神经纤维开发应变敏感的离子通道模型。 他们扩展了以前的工作，允许PC的完全三维变形，并包括内囊结构。 这将有助于进一步了解PC独特的神经调谐和方向灵敏度特性的来源。 研究人员还开发了一个连续体皮肤模型，以了解皮肤的过滤贡献。 这包括结合皮肤的双相（流体-固体）特性。 来自实验组的合作补充了理论工作。 研究人员通过理论模型（但与实验组合作）研究皮肤表面的机械刺激如何通过皮肤和皮肤受体转化为电信号。 这种机械到电的过程（机械传导）给出在中枢神经系统中处理的输出，并最终与我们对触摸的感知相关联。 机械转导一般是一个基本的生理过程，是听觉、消化、平衡以及触觉等多种功能的核心。 通过皮肤受体（特别是Pacinian小体）的定量建模，他们发展了对这些受体的机械与神经部分的贡献的理解（目前很难通过实验完成）;因此，他们能够解释由于衰老和异常而引起的变化。 他们将皮肤建模为双相（流体-固体）材料的方法预计在研究不一定与生物组织相关的其他双相材料的力学方面具有价值。

9404517 Bell The investigator and his colleagues undertake research to establish a quantitative understanding of mechanotransduction in the mammalian tactile system through modeling a skin receptor (Pacinian corpuscle_PC) and the skin. They develop the mathematical approach for determining the transmission of strain through the PC's capsule, its mechanical filter, and develop strain-sensitive ionic channel models for the PC's nerve fiber. They extend previous work to allow full three-dimensional deformation of the PC and to include inner capsule structure. This will help further understand sources of distinctive neural tuning and directional sensitivity characteristic of the PC. The investigators also develop a continuum skin model to understand the filtering contributions made by the skin. This includes incorporating the biphasic (fluid-solid) character of the skin. Cooperation from an experimental group complements the theoretical efforts. The investigators study, through theoretical models (but in cooperation with an experimental group), how mechanical stimuli at the skin surface are transformed through skin and by a skin receptor into electrical signals. This mechanical-to-electrical process (mechanotrans- duction) gives output that is processed in the central nervous system and ultimately as associated with our perception of touch. Mechanotransduction in general is a fundamental physiological process that is central to such diverse functions as hearing, digestion, balance, as well as touch. Through quantitative modeling of skin receptors (specifically, Pacinian corpuscles) they developin an understanding of the contribution of the mechanical vs the neural part of these receptors (which is presently very difficult to accomplish experimentally); hence, they are able to interpret changes due to aging and abnormalities. The approach they take to modeling the skin as a biphasic (fluid-solid) material is expected to be valuable in studying t he mechanics of other biphasic materials not necessarily associated with biological tissues.