ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief introduction to the field of chaos with particular reference to the study of the nervous system using slice preparations. The methods that this field provides for the analysis of complex variability in physical systems have proven their value in many areas of science, yet remain unfamiliar to many neuroscientists. The behavior of the Lorenz equations illustrates the defining characteristics of chaotic processes: a high degree of apparently random variability and extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. It has become apparent, however, that application of the techniques can sometimes lead to spurious results, suggesting chaotic structure where none exists or vice versa. A variety of approaches has been introduced for the identification of chaotic processes in experimental data. The goodness of prediction can be tested by comparing the predictions from the experimental data with the predictions of a control system that is intentionally stochastic.
