Internal Seminar - Antonio Carlos Costa (ENS)

Abstract:
Inspired by the quantitative analysis of animal behavior, we consider a genericmodel in whichbehaviorevolves in a time-dependentfluctuatingpotentiallandscape. We show that in thelimit of slow and large enough fluctuations the distribution of first passage timesexhibitsheavytailsdominated by a powerlaw, with corrections thatdepend on thestrengthandthe nature of fluctuations. In addition, we introduce a method for inferringsuchtime-dependentpotentiallandscapesfromvideos of foragingC. elegans, extractingstereotypedbehaviors as meta stable wellsandslowlychanging internal states throughthetime-dependence of thepotentiallandscape.

We remindyouthat internal seminars are meant for QBioresearchers to sharetheirmostrecentworks in an informalsetting, withtheaim of stimulating discussions andsharing of ideas.

Everybodyinterested in Antonio'stalk or in discussingwithhim is welcome to join, even if notdirectlyinvolved in theQBio collaboration.