Speaker: Victoria Booth, Mathematics & Anesthesiology, University of Michigan
Title: Dynamics of sleep-wake regulation

Abstract: Sleep and wake states are regulated by the interactions among a number of brainstem and hypothalamic neuronal populations and the expression of their neurotransmitters. Based on different experimental studies, several different structures have been proposed for this sleep-wake regulatory network with particular debate over components involved in rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep regulation. We have developed a mathematical modeling framework that is uniquely suited for investigating the structure and dynamics of proposed sleep-wake regulatory networks. Using this framework, we are analyzing the competing proposed network structures for the regulation of REM sleep to determine how the structure of the sleep-wake regulatory network determines sleep-wake behavior and the dynamics of behavioral state transitions. I will discuss our analysis of the comparative abilities of different network structures to produce non-REM/REM sleep cycling characteristic of human sleep-wake behavior and extended models that replicate the variable sleep-wake patterning observed in rodents.

SPECIAL ROOM AND TIME Time: Friday, May 4, 2012, 11am - 12

Place: Science and Tech 1, Room 206

Department of Mathematical Sciences
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MS 3F2
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
http://math.gmu.edu/
Tel. 703-993-1460, Fax. 703-993-1491