Mathematical modelling of the sleep-wake cycle: light, clocks and social rhythms

Abstract:

We’re all familiar with sleep, but how can we mathematically model it? And what determines how long and when we sleep? In this talk I’ll introduce the nonsmooth coupled oscillator systems that form the basis of current models of sleep-wake regulation and discuss their dynamical behaviour. I will describe how we are using models to unravel environmental, societal and physiological factors that determine sleep timing and outline how we are using models to inform the quantitative design of light interventions for mental health disorders and address contentious societal questions such as whether to move school start time for adolescents.