Phase control of neural pacemakers.
An electrical stimulus resets the phase of a spontaneously rhythmic neuron. The "new phase" versus "old phase" curve shows either of two distinct topological characters, depending on the stimulus magnitude. These features, and a phase singularity implicit in them, are common to many stable oscillations deriving from continuous feedback between two or more biophysical quantities.
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D005246:Feedback; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology