Meeting Abstract
Mathematical modeling has a rich history of helping to shape the way we think about sleep. In the early 1980s, the introduction of the 2-process model by Borbély and colleagues provided a formal (and accessible) mathematical way to conceptualize the interactions between sleep and circadian systems. We have developed an interactive application that simulates sleep/wake behavior using the 2-process model and allows students to explore the model from several perspectives. Depending on student mathematical level, the model can be represented using either algebraic or differential equations. First, students must choose baseline parameters for the model: we include pre-programmed “Adult” and “Teen” models, or, alternatively, students can compute and fit their own average sleep/wake behavior based on a sleep journal kept over the course of a week. Once baseline parameters are specified, students can explore different behavioral scenarios including sleep deprivation and shift work. Within these scenarios, a range of metrics compares the effects of various sleep deprivation protocols and work schedules on sleep/wake behavior. The use of this module will provide an introduction to mathematical modeling in a context that is highly relevant in students’ lives, and student exploration of model predictions will lead to increased awareness of and engagement with features of healthy sleep/wake behavior.
