Speakers
Description
Biological systems often feature aspects that evolve on highly disparate timescales. While substantial theoretical work has led to the development of extensive mathematical theory about dynamics of multi-timescale systems, open frontiers remain. This minisymposium will explore recent advances on several of these fronts in the context of problems arising in electrically excitable systems, predominantly in neuroscience. Directions to be discussed include dynamic effects arising in three-timescale systems, links between bifurcations and functionally relevant dynamic events and patterns, dynamics induced by forcing in multi-timescale systems, and challenges arising from a lack of clear separation between timescales across the dynamic range at which a system operates. Applications span topics such as neurotransmitter release for neuronal communication, generation of rhythmic activity, synchronization for hormone release, and pathological states such as spreading depression.
