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Integrative and Reductionist Approaches to Modeling of Control of Breathing

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Mathematical Modeling and Validation in Physiology

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Mathematics ((LNMBIOS,volume 2064))

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Abstract

Integration and reductionism represent two different modeling approaches in understanding the working mechanism of a system. Traditionally, biological modeling has relied on reductionism, which has the advantage of decomposing the intrinsic complexity of biological systems into smaller subsystems to ease understanding. However, as more information accumulates, it becomes increasingly difficult to integrate these components systematically to explain more complex behavior, particularly when multiple determining factors co-exist. In this chapter, we compare the reductionist and integrative views of biological modeling. The value of integrative modeling is discussed from the perspective of engineering and physics point of view. The need for an integrative approach is illustrated in the context of respiratory control.

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Acknowledgements

Chung Tin is an American Heart Association predoctoral fellow. The research of Chi-Sang Poon was supported by US National Institutes of Health grants HL067966, HL072849, HL079503 and RR028241.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Chung Tin

  2. Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, E25-250, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Chi-Sang Poon

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  1. Chung Tin
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Correspondence to Chung Tin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mathematics and Scientific Computing, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 36, Graz, 8010, Austria

    Jerry J. Batzel

  2. College of Sciences, Department of Mathematics, King Saud University, King Khalid Road, Diriyah Campus, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Mostafa Bachar

  3. Institute for Mathematics, and Scientific Computing, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 36, Graz, 8010, Austria

    Franz Kappel

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Tin, C., Poon, CS. (2013). Integrative and Reductionist Approaches to Modeling of Control of Breathing. In: Batzel, J., Bachar, M., Kappel, F. (eds) Mathematical Modeling and Validation in Physiology. Lecture Notes in Mathematics(), vol 2064. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32882-4_5

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