Simulation of a biological oscillator: the respiratory system

Several models of oscillators defined by a system of non-linear differential equations have been built which simulate quite well some entrainment characteristics of the respiratory system: the range of entrainment, positioning of the stimulus at entrainment and the variation of inspiratory duration with entrainment periods. The construction of the model has been guided by consideration of the isochron configuration and the phase response curve of the system, which may yield a good qualitative fit between simulation and experimental results.