SMS scnews item created by Martin Wechselberger at Wed 25 Mar 2009 1546
Type: Seminar
Distribution: World
Expiry: 1 Apr 2009
Calendar1: 1 Apr 2009 1405-1455
CalLoc1: Eastern Avenue Lecture Theatre
Auth: wm@p628.pc (assumed)

# Applied Maths Seminar: Wechselberger -- Bursts and Canards in a Pituitary Lactotroph Model

Martin Wechselberger
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney

Bursting oscillations in nerve cells have been the focus of a great deal of attention by
mathematicians.  These are typically studied by taking advantage of multiple time-scales
in the system under study to perform a singular perturbation analysis.  Bursting also
occurs in hormone-secreting pituitary cells, but is characterized by fast bursts with
small electrical impulses.  Although the separation of time-scales is not as clear,
singular perturbation analysis is still the key to understand the bursting mechanism.
In particular, we will show that canards are responsible for the observed oscillatory
behaviour.

This is joint work with Theodore Vo.


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