A qualitative model of a motor circadian rhythm

Abstract

In Nature it is possible to observe diverse rhythms. Because of their adaptive characteristics, the circadian rhythms are of major importance and have been the subject of numerous experimental and theoretical studies. In this article, we give a presentation of the main results we have obtained about the motor circadian rhythm along some years of collaboration between biologists and mathematicians. We present a mathematical model simulating changes in frequency, synchronization and amplitude of the circadian oscillation during two developmental stages of the crayfish, namely, the juvenile and the adult stages. We report also some work in progress on the simulation of the phase response curve and on a simplified model of the rhythm. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.