Current Research
Computational Modeling Laboratory of Dr. Semahat S. Demir
Dr. Demir has primary research expertise and interests in the areas of mathematical modeling and computer simulations in both cardiac electrophysiology and neuroscience. Her research projects in electrophysiology and computational neuroscience focus on providing better understanding of the dynamical properties and ionic mechanisms underlying:
cellular pacing, bursting and beating activities of cardiac cells and neurons,
autonomic control of pacing rate in heart including the cholinergic and adrenergic modulation of cardiac ionic channels,
different muscarinic receptors in the parasympathetic nervous system,
control of biological oscillators,
membrane potential differences in the left ventricle in heart,
a variety of pathological (normal, diabetic, altered thyroid, hypertrophied, congestive heart failure) conditions in the left ventricle,
basis of ischemic changes in the sinoatrial node,
synaptic interactions between neurons,
bursting activity of neostriatal interneurons, and
rapid pacing in guinea pig ventricular cells.
In addition, Dr. Demir has extensive computational experience in phase sensitivity and
entrainment of cardiac cells and neurons. Her related research interests in cardiac
electrophysiology are specifically in the sinoatrial, atrioventricular, atrial and
ventricular cells in rat, mouse, rabbit, dog and guinea pig hearts, and in neuroscience
are in the R15 neuron of Aplysia seaslug, in cardiac neurons in the rat nucleus ambiguus,
and in the neostriatal cholinergic interneurons in the rat.
Site last updated on Nov 29, 2000 by Dong Zhang
Web development and design by Semahat S. Demir
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