Speaker: Henry D. I. Abarbanel, Department of Physics and Marine Physical Laboratory (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), University of California, San Diego

Title: Electronic and Biological Neurons

Abstract: Starting from laboratory electrophysiological measurements on individual neurons in a rhythm generating control circuit found in crustaceans, we use nonlinear time series analysis to establish a reduced degree of freedom model for these neurons and for the network as a whole. These networks, called Central Pattern generators, are found in many animals. Once the numerical version of the network was established, we developed inexpensive, analog circuit circuits that reproduce the dynamical behavior of the biological circuits. We show this directly by lesioning neurons from the network and replacing them with their electronic versions. Some speculations on future uses of electronic versions of these control circuits will be discussed.

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