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Microcomputers and physiological simulation
Compur. Biol. Med. Vol. 11. p. 47. Pergamon Press Ltd. 1981. Printed
in Great Britain.
BOOK REVIEWS (Excerpted from Prefaces) Microcomputers
and Physiological Simulation, JAMES E. RANDALL. Addison-Wesley Publish-
ing Company, Reading MA. The objective of this book is to further the cause of quantitative physiology by demonstrating to non-specialists that they can use the new microcomputers for mathematical modeling. The particular approach of this book is to illustrate that microcomputers can provide graphic displays of physiological responses to a wide range of disturbances thereby providing an opportunity for gaining insight regarding the underlying mechanisms of interrelated dynamic processes. The first five chapters discuss the hardware and software alternatives for the person who wishes to purchase a microcomputer system. The balance of the book documents simulations of increasing complexity as I have used them. Each of these chapters presents a commonly encountered model of a physiological process or system and describes how it can be implemented in BASIC. Chapter 12, which presents the familiar Hodgkin and Huxley model for axon action potential, may be of particular interest to people teaching the basics of neurophysiology. I have found lecture demonstrations of the computed membrane potential and membrane conductance changes to be especially well-received.
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in Great Britain.
BOOK REVIEWS (Excerpted from Prefaces) Microcomputers
and Physiological Simulation, JAMES E. RANDALL. Addison-Wesley Publish-
ing Company, Reading MA. The objective of this book is to further the cause of quantitative physiology by demonstrating to non-specialists that they can use the new microcomputers for mathematical modeling. The particular approach of this book is to illustrate that microcomputers can provide graphic displays of physiological responses to a wide range of disturbances thereby providing an opportunity for gaining insight regarding the underlying mechanisms of interrelated dynamic processes. The first five chapters discuss the hardware and software alternatives for the person who wishes to purchase a microcomputer system. The balance of the book documents simulations of increasing complexity as I have used them. Each of these chapters presents a commonly encountered model of a physiological process or system and describes how it can be implemented in BASIC. Chapter 12, which presents the familiar Hodgkin and Huxley model for axon action potential, may be of particular interest to people teaching the basics of neurophysiology. I have found lecture demonstrations of the computed membrane potential and membrane conductance changes to be especially well-received.
47