The objectives of this project are to give students experience with state-of-the-art analytical equipment, and to increase their familiarity with quantitative biology. To address these issues, this department is equipping its physiology laboratory with four computer- interfaced data acquisition systems with physiological monitors for the measurement of bioelectrical and biomechanical activities. These data acquisition systems, supported by the appropriate software, are capable of data storage, analysis, manipulation, and retrieval. The simulation capabilities of the computer may be exploited also for the visualization of equations used for modeling various physiological processes. Students then may compare the theoretical and actual outputs of each physiological system studied. Processes to be studied using this equipment include muscle, skin, and nerve activity, cardiovascular physiology, respiration, and glandular secretion. Mastery of this equipment provides the undergraduate with a background for understanding the operation principles of other types of equipment using the sensor/transducer/ amplifier/ recorder component series. The simulation experience helps students to bridge the conceptual gap between real physiological processes and their mathematical models. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.
