PHYSIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS FROM CELLULAR AND NETWORK MODELS OF THE STOMATOGASTRIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF LOBSTERS AND CRABS

The stomatogastric nervous system of decapod crustaceans is an ideal s ystem for the study of the processes underlying the generation of rhyt hmic movements by the nervous system. In this chapter we review recent work that uses mathematical analyses and computer simulations to unde rstand: 1) the role of individual currents in controlling the activity of neurons, and 2) the effects of electrical coupling on the activity of neuronal oscillators. The aim of this review is to highlight, for the physiologist, what these studies have taught us about the organiza tion and function of single cell and multicellular neuronal oscillator s.