The Bozovic lab focuses on problems at the interface between physics and sensory neuroscience. In particular, we study how auditory and vestibular systems perform mechanical sensing down to the nanometer level. The main topics are: (1) nonlinear dynamics of response by individual elements - the hair cells, (2) synchronization of movement by inter-cell coupling, and (3) self-tuning in response to external stimulus. The experiments require measuring bundle motility with nanometer-level precision, in preparations that preserve the biological function of the cells. Our measurement system includes parallel-tracking ability, allowing us to explore synchronization between active motility of different hair cells. We interpret our findings in the context of nonlinear dynamics and bifurcation theory, to explain the nanoscale sensitivity displayed by the biological system.
From UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy
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