Proposal for APS-IUPS convention for diagraming physiological mechanisms.

Area of Science:

• Physiological systems research
• Cybernetics
• Scientific communication

Background:

• Increasing complexity in physiological systems necessitates clear communication methods.
• Existing diagrammatic conventions in engineering fields contrast with the ad hoc approaches in physiology.
• A uniform convention is needed to represent physiological systems and their interactions effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel, uniform diagrammatic convention for physiological systems.
• To enhance scientist-to-scientist communication and teaching in physiology.
• To integrate diverse physiological research areas through a common representational framework.

Main Methods:

• The proposed convention is based on W. Ross Ashby's formal theory of mechanism.
• Diagrams can be drawn at various levels of detail using basic rules.
• The convention is designed for simplicity and ease of understanding.

Main Results:

• The mechanistic structure of the convention transcends interdisciplinary barriers.
• It facilitates the integration of molecular, cellular, and systems physiology.
• Diagrams are readily understandable without prior knowledge of the underlying theory.

Conclusions:

• Adoption of this convention can enhance the comprehensive understanding of physiological mechanisms.
• It supports a metadisciplinary approach to studying 'the wisdom of the body'.
• The proposed system offers a simple yet powerful tool for physiological research and education.