Mathematical Modeling of the Nervous System of the Leech

这个IGMS项目将深化和扩展PI卡尔考恩的准备，通过在普渡大学系工作进行数学神经科学的研究。生物科学与教授克里斯Sahley和她的博士后布赖恩伯勒尔和布伦达莫斯。 Sahley教授的小组研究了行为可塑性的细胞和分子机制，特别是使用药用水蛭水蛭作为模式生物的联想学习和非联想学习。 Cowen建议在Sahley的实验室工作一年，观察所使用的实验技术，了解学习的潜在细胞和分子机制，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，与生物学家合作了解模型的预测，并利用预测来加深对所涉及的细胞和分子机制的理解，或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，预计将导致成功的跨学科合作。 具体的细胞机制提出的研究，S-细胞和P-细胞之间的相互作用的水蛭的神经系统，既简单到足以提供详细的调查，也代表了一类重要的神经元之间的相互作用在无脊椎动物和高等动物，包括人类。 该项目以学习为中心，包括Cowen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，在2004年春季，考恩将提供在普渡大学生物系的微分方程和动力系统的建模神经元系统，这将是适合先进的本科生或开始研究生在生物学或其他科学的过程中。 此外，考恩将在2004年夏季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Cowen与普渡大学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，包括女性和代表性不足的少数群体成员，在数学神经科学方面。

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).