Neurodynamics group
The goal of neural science is to understand the brain, mind, how we perceive, move, think, and remember. All those things are dynamical processes which are taking place in a complex, changing and noisy environment. That means that these dynamical processes at all levels from small neural networks to behavior should be stable against perturbation but flexible and adaptive. The goal of neurodynamics is to formulate the main dynamical principles which can be a basis for such behavior and to predict the possible activities of neurons and neural ensembles using the tools of nonlinear dynamics.
Stability and Flexibility of small neural circuits (CPGs)
The role of sensory systems for the organization of motor activity
Winnerless Competition and the olfactory system of insects
Electronic Neurons and hybrid circuits
Reconstruction of input spaces
Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity
Electronic Nervous Systems for Biomimetic Robots
Systems biodynamics lab
Our research is directed towards the construction and utilization of gene circuits for dissecting, analyzing, and controlling the dynamical interactions involved in gene regulation. We have two main goals in pursuing this research: (1) To develop a quantitative computational framework for understanding the dynamics of gene regulatory networks; (2) To develop cellular control schemes for potential therapeutic applications. Here are some of the specific projects which we have been working on.
Noise in gene regulatory networks
Circadian oscillations
Growth and ordering of bacteria in biofilms
Granular physics and pattern formation group
Collective dynamics of granular systems has been a very acrtive area of research in nonlinear physics community in the past decade. This area is gradually changing from being mostly empirical discipline to the subject of thorough experimental, theoretical and numerical investigations. We are interested in the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of granular matter. Our work combines analysis of experimental data, numerical "molecular dynamics" simulations, and theoretical modeling. Here are some of the specific projects which we have been working on.
Patterns in a thin granular layer jumping on a vibrating plate
Partially fluidized shear flows
Dynamics and patterns of anisotropic grains
Dynamics of shallow fluidized beds
Chaos applications group
Synchronization of chaos
The Research Group for Mind-Body Dynamics
(Courtesy of 4-D Neuroimaging,
San Diego, CA)