DYNAMICS AND KINEMATICS OF SIMPLE NEURAL SYSTEMS

The dynamics of simple neural systems is of interest to both biologist s and physicists. One of the possible roles of such systems is the pro duction of rhythmic patterns, and their alterations (modification of b ehavior, processing of sensory information, adaptation, control). In t his paper, the neural systems are considered as a subject of modeling by the dynamical systems approach. In particular, we analyze how a sta ble, ordinary behavior of a small neural system can be described by si mple finite automata models, and how more complicated dynamical system s modeling can be used. The approach is illustrated by biological and numerical examples: experiments with and numerical simulations of the stomatogastric central pattern generators network of the California sp iny lobster. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.