Duty Cycle Maintenance in an Artificial Neuron

• Main Author: Barnett, William Halbert
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Archive @ GSU 2009
• Subjects: Hybrid systems; Real time systems; Hodgkin huxley; Neuronal dynamics; Electrophysiology; Dynamic clamp; Medicinal leech; Central pattern generator; Half center oscillator; Heartbeat; Bifurcation theory; Astrophysics and Astronomy; Physics
• Online Access: http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/phy_astr_theses/7; http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=phy_astr_theses

Neuroprosthetics is at the intersection of neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and physics. A biocompatible neuroprosthesis contains artificial neurons exhibiting biophysically plausible dynamics. Hybrid systems analysis could be used to prototype such artificial neurons. Biohybrid systems are composed of artificial and living neurons coupled via real-time computing and dynamic clamp. Model neurons must be thoroughly tested before coupled with a living cell. We use bifurcation theory to identify hazardous regimes of activity that may compromise biocompatibility and to identify control strategies for regimes of activity desirable for functional behavior. We construct real-time artificial neurons for the analysis of hybrid systems and demonstrate a mechanism through which an artificial neuron could maintain duty cycle independent of variations in period.