(PI Mentors: Jan Engelbrecht , Professor of Physics; Renato Mirollo, Professor of Mathematics)
Description: A key challenge in neuroscience is finding mathematical models that can reproduce the rich neurological behavior while providing guiding physical principles governing neuron dynamics. In this project, students will study the dynamics of a coupled oscillator network in which there is a competition between collective synchrony and each individual oscillator’s attraction to its own unique pinning site. Preliminary results suggest this model could provide a new route to understanding the interactions and dynamics of neurons. A student working with co-PI Engelbrecht will develop code to numerically implement the model, while a student working with co-PI Mirollo will develop analytic solutions. The two students will collaborate to provide feedback and compare their respective approaches.