Rhythms in Physiological Systems
Proceedings of the International Symposium at Schloß Elmau, Bavaria, October 22–25, 1990
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Beschreibung
Rhythms are a basic phenomenon in all physiological systems. They cover an enormous range of frequencies with periods from the order of milliseconds up to some years. They are described by many disciplines and are investigated usually in the context of the physiology of the respective function or organ. The importance given to the research on rhythmicity is quite different in different systems. In some cases where the functional significance is obvious rhythms are at the center of interest, as in the case of respiration or locomotion. In other fields they are considered more or less as interesting epiphenomena or at best as indicators without essential functional significance, as in the case of cardiovascular or EEG rhythms. Recently the study of physiological rhythms has attracted growing interest in several fields, especially with respect to rhythm research in humans and its rapidly spreading applications in basic behavioral research, and as a diagnostic tool in clinical medicine. This development was favored by two methodological and conceptual ad vances: on the one hand, the availability of non-invasive methods of continu ous recording of physiological parameters and their computer-assisted evaluation, and on the other, the rapid development of theoretical analyses, for example, the understanding of dynamic systems, the generation of coordinated macroscopic pro cesses in systems comprising many single elements, and the mathematical tools for treating nonlinear oscillators and their mutual coupling.
This book contains invited contributions by top experts in the field of physiological rhythms. It is the first attempt to demonstrate the pronounced similarities between the various types of physiological rhythms and to identify their interrelations. This integrative and interdisciplinary approach will be of interest to physiologists, physicists, physicians, and biologists.
Autor*in
Hermann Haken
Themen in »Rhythms in Physiological Systems«
EEG Synergetics cardiovascular rhythms circadian rhythms perception respiratory rhythms