An international research group proposes a universal structure for interpreting ‘oscillations.’ Life’s random rhythms surround us–from the hypnotic, synchronized blinking of fireflies…to the back-and-forth motion of a child’s swing… to slight variations in the otherwise steady lub-dub of the human
Scientists have developed a novel, universal framework for comparing various oscillations, which could provide significant insights into neural and cardiac science. By converting the issue of comparing oscillators into a linear algebra problem, the team can now compare and understand oscillators previously thought to have different properties, with applications potentially spanning from understanding heart and brain oscillations to analyzing the sway of skyscrapers.
Thomas is part of an international team that says it has developed a novel, universal framework for comparing and contrasting oscillations–regardless of their different underlying mechanisms—which could become a critical step toward someday fully understanding them.“We turned the problem of comparing oscillators into a linear algebra problem,” Thomas said. “What we have done is vastly more precise than what was available before. It’s a major conceptual advance.
“If your heart cells aren’t synchronized, you die of atrial fibrillation,” Thomas said. “But if your brain cells synchronize too much, you have Parkinson’s disease, or epilepsy, depending on which part of the brain the synchronization occurs in. By using our new framework, that heart or brain scientist may be able to better understand what the oscillations could mean and how the heart or brain is working or changing over time.
Thomas said the problem with comparing oscillators can be illustrated by considering two markedly different examples: brain rhythms and swaying skyscrapers.
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