Hamburg 2001 – scientific programme

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DY: Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 40: Statistische Physik in biologischen Systemen II

DY 40.2: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 29, 2001, 10:00–10:30, S 6

Stochastic Resonance in Biological Physics: From Cell Membrane Ion Channels to Animal Behavior* — •Frank Moss — Center for Neurodynamics, University of Missouri at St. Louis, USA

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon occurring in a class of nonlinear systems whereby the addition of random noise to a weak signal can enhance its detectability and/or information through-put [1]. Requiring only a threshold, a subthreshold signal and noise, SR has thus found applications in many physical and natural systems. I will provide a brief overview of this activity with a more detailed focus on SR in membrane ion channels, information processes and animal behavior [2,3].
* Supported by the U. S. Office of Naval Research
1. Gammaitoni, L., Hanggi, P., Jung, P. and Marchesoni, F. Stochastic Resonance. Rev. Mod. Phys. 70, 223 - 288 (1998).
2. Russell, D., Wilkens, L., and Moss, F. Use of behavioral stochastic resonance by paddlefish for feeding. Nature, 402, 219-223 (1999).
3. Freund, J. A., Kienert, J., Schimansky-Geier, L., Beisner, B., Neiman, A., Russell, D., Yakusheva, T. and Moss, F. Behavioral Stochastic Resonance: How a noisy army betrays its outpost. Phys. Rev. E. in press.