title: Remarks on feedforward circuits, adaptation, and pulse memory.
abstract: This note studies feedforward circuits as models for perfect adaptation to step signals in biological systems. A global convergence theorem is proved in a general framework, which includes examples from the literature as particular cases. A notable aspect of these circuits is that they do not adapt to pulse signals, because they display a memory phenomenon. Estimates are given of the magnitude of this effect.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, Department of Mathematics, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. sontag@math.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Sontag
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted