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Description And Validation Of A Dynamical Systems Model Of Presynaptic Serotonin Function: Genetic Variation, Brain Activation And Impulsivity, Scott F. Stoltenberg, Parthasarathi Nag

Scott F. Stoltenberg

Despite more than a decade of empirical work on the role of genetic polymorphisms in the serotonin system on behavior, the details across levels of analysis are not well understood. We describe a mathematical model of the genetic control of presynaptic serotonergic function that is based on control theory, implemented using systems of differential equations, and focused on better characterizing pathways from genes to behavior. We present the results of model validation tests that include the comparison of simulation outcomes with empirical data on genetic effects on brain response to affective stimuli and on impulsivity. Patterns of simulated neural firing …