title: A conversational program for analytical modelling of action potentials in nerve and muscle.
abstract: A conversational program is described which is being used for exploratory modelling of digestive tract electrical activity. The structure of the mathematical model is based on the Hodgkin-Huxley equations for nerve axons and the Noble equations for Purkinje fibres of the heart. The parameters of the models are changed conversationally to investigate the effects of frequency, amplitude and waveshape. In this way it is intended to extend the models to include nervous control. The program is also being used to correlate the behaviour of H-H type equations with the simpler dynamics of Van der Pol's equation which is the basis of an oscillator-array model for the stomach and small intestines.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D003201:Computers; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*