SyncHow Order Emerges From Chaos in the Universe, Nature, and

Daily Life

Sync

Chapter 1: Fireflies and the Inevitability of Sync (pg 11-39)

Chapter 2: Brain Waves and Conditions for Sync (pg 40-69)

Chapter 3: Sleep and the Daily Struggle for Sync (pg 70-102)

Firefly

1915-1935 Science Published 20 Articles “Some twenty years ago I saw, or thought I saw, a

synchronal or simultaneous flash of fireflies. I could hardly believe my eyes, for such a thing to occur among insects is certainly contrary to all natural laws” - Philip Laurent, 1917

“The apparent phenomenon was caused by the twitching or sudden lowering of my eyelids. The insects had nothing whatsoever to do with it” - Philip Laurent, 1917

“If it is desired to get a body of men to sign or play together in perfect rhythm they not only must have a leader but must be trained to follow such a leader....Do these insects inherit a sense of rhythm more perfect than are own.” - George Hudson, 1918

The Proof

1954 Norbert Wiener, MIT, Brain Waves (pg 40-46)

1964 Art Winfree, Runners on a Track (pg 46-55)

1975 Yoshiki Kuramoto, Order Parameter (pg 55-59)

1975 Charlie Peskin, NYU, produces proof for two pulse-coupled oscillators (pg 14-19)

1989 author reads The Geometry of Biological Time by Art Winfree - “the population of the problem awaits completion. (pg 19)

The Proof

Steven Strogatz and Rennie Mirollo develop proof for n-pulse-coupled oscillators (pg 19-30) Paul Matthews, MIT (pg 64-65) George Rowlands, University or Warwick (pg 64-65) Landau damping (pg 64-65)

1990s – 100 papers written on pulse-coupled oscillators. (pg 30-31)

1995 David Welsh and Steve Reppert at Masschusetts General Hospital, Circadian Pacemaker (PG 65-69)

The Proof

2001: The history of the Alpha Waves...

Why Do Fireflies Sync

Beacon Hypothesis Males synchronizes to attract females Synchronization appears to happen in densely

wooded areas. Females can see the light through the trees

“You might get lucky” Protection from Predators “It's always safest to

blend in with a crowd” “...Competition, not cooperation”

An Aside...

Where can one see synchronized fireflies? Thailand Africa Elkmont, TN – Great Smoky Mountains National

Park

http://jacksonmountainhomes.wordpress.com/category/spring/

What Syncs

Fireflies (pg 11-14, 30-35) Female menstrual cycles (pg 36-39) Sperm Swimming (pg 14) Brain Cells (Epilepsy) (pg 14) Lasers (pg 14) The Heart (pg 14-30) Cicadas (pg 35) Circadian Pacemaker (pg 65-69)

Circadian Cycle

“About a day” Control of Temperature/Hormones/etc Sleep Cycle can become Desynchronized from

Circadian Cycle

Circadian Cycle

Michel Siffre (Midnight Cave) Jurgen Aschoff (Internal Desync) Elliot Weitzman & Charles Czeisler (12

Subjects) – Long Sleep – High Temp... Curt Richer (Rats) Winfree: “Sleep duration predictable, but wake

duration was not” Mary Carskadon and William Dement “90

Minute Schedule” 30 Sleep/60 Wake Forbidden Zone/Other Problems