中国物理B ›› 2014, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (7): 78702-078702.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/23/7/078702

所属专题: TOPICAL REVIEW — Statistical Physics and Complex Systems

• TOPICAL REVIEW—Statistical Physics and Complex Systems • 上一篇    下一篇

Collective behaviors of suprachiasm nucleus neurons under different light-dark cycles

顾长贵a, 张新华b, 刘宗华a   

  1. a Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China;
    b Jinhua Middle School, Shanghai 200333, China
  • 收稿日期:2013-11-25 修回日期:2014-01-20 出版日期:2014-07-15 发布日期:2014-07-15
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11135001 and 11375066), the Joriss Project, China (Grant No. 78230050), and the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2013CB834100).

Collective behaviors of suprachiasm nucleus neurons under different light-dark cycles

Gu Chang-Gui (顾长贵)a, Zhang Xin-Hua (张新华)b, Liu Zong-Hua (刘宗华)a   

  1. a Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China;
    b Jinhua Middle School, Shanghai 200333, China
  • Received:2013-11-25 Revised:2014-01-20 Online:2014-07-15 Published:2014-07-15
  • Contact: Liu Zong-Hua E-mail:zhliu@phy.ecnu.edu.cn
  • About author:87.18.Yt; 05.45.Xt; 87.18.Sn
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11135001 and 11375066), the Joriss Project, China (Grant No. 78230050), and the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2013CB834100).

摘要: The principal circadian clock in the suprachiasm nucleus (SCN) regulates the circadian rhythm of physiological and behavioral activities of mammals. Except for the normal function of the circadian rhythm, the ensemble of SCN neurons may show two collective behaviors, i.e., a free running period in the absence of a light-dark cycle and an entrainment ability to an external T cycle. Experiments show that both the free running periods and the entrainment ranges may vary from one species to another and can be seriously influenced by the coupling among the SCN neurons. We here review the recent progress on how the heterogeneous couplings influence these two collective behaviors. We will show that in the case of homogeneous coupling, the free running period increases monotonically while the entrainment range decreases monotonically with the increase of the coupling strength. While in the case of heterogenous coupling, the dispersion of the coupling strength plays a crucial role. It has been found that the free running period decreases with the increase of the dispersion while the entrainment ability is enhanced by the dispersion. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of the circadian clock in the SCN.

关键词: suprachiasm nucleus, light-dark cycle, free running period, entrainment range

Abstract: The principal circadian clock in the suprachiasm nucleus (SCN) regulates the circadian rhythm of physiological and behavioral activities of mammals. Except for the normal function of the circadian rhythm, the ensemble of SCN neurons may show two collective behaviors, i.e., a free running period in the absence of a light-dark cycle and an entrainment ability to an external T cycle. Experiments show that both the free running periods and the entrainment ranges may vary from one species to another and can be seriously influenced by the coupling among the SCN neurons. We here review the recent progress on how the heterogeneous couplings influence these two collective behaviors. We will show that in the case of homogeneous coupling, the free running period increases monotonically while the entrainment range decreases monotonically with the increase of the coupling strength. While in the case of heterogenous coupling, the dispersion of the coupling strength plays a crucial role. It has been found that the free running period decreases with the increase of the dispersion while the entrainment ability is enhanced by the dispersion. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of the circadian clock in the SCN.

Key words: suprachiasm nucleus, light-dark cycle, free running period, entrainment range

中图分类号:  (Circadian rhythms)

  • 87.18.Yt
05.45.Xt (Synchronization; coupled oscillators) 87.18.Sn (Neural networks and synaptic communication)