Beersma Domien G M
University of Groningen, Department of Behavioral Biology, The Netherlands.
J Biol Rhythms. 2005 Aug;20(4):304-13. doi: 10.1177/0748730405277388.
In our attempts to understand the circadian system, we unavoidably rely on abstractions. Instead of describing the behavior of the circadian system in all its complexity, we try to derive basic features from which we form a global concept on how the system works. Such a basic concept is a model of reality. The author discusses why it is advantageous or even necessary to transform conceptual models into mathematical formulations. As examples to demonstrate those advantages, the author reviews 4 types of mathematical models: negative feedback models thought to operate within pacemaker cells, models on coupling between pacemaker cells to generate pacemaker output, oscillator models describing the behavior of the composite circadian pacemaker, and models describing how the circadian pacemaker influences behavior.
在我们试图理解昼夜节律系统的过程中，我们不可避免地依赖于抽象概念。我们并非描述昼夜节律系统的所有复杂行为，而是试图从中推导基本特征，据此形成关于该系统如何运作的整体概念。这样一个基本概念就是现实的模型。作者讨论了为何将概念模型转化为数学公式是有利的甚至是必要的。作为展示这些优势的例子，作者回顾了4种数学模型：被认为在起搏细胞内运作的负反馈模型、关于起搏细胞之间耦合以产生起搏输出的模型、描述复合昼夜节律起搏器行为的振荡器模型，以及描述昼夜节律起搏器如何影响行为的模型。
