Open AccessPrinciples, mechanisms and functions of entrainment in biological oscillators
Author(s) -
Ana María Jiménez Jiménez,
Ying Lu,
Ashwini Jambhekar,
Galit Lahav
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
interface focus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2042-8901
pISSN - 2042-8898
DOI - 10.1098/rsfs.2021.0088
Subject(s) - entrainment (biomusicology) , computer science , perspective (graphical) , population , phenomenon , statistical physics , biological system , physics , artificial intelligence , biology , rhythm , demography , quantum mechanics , sociology , acoustics
Entrainment is a phenomenon in which two oscillators interact with each other, typically through physical or chemical means, to synchronize their oscillations. This phenomenon occurs in biology to coordinate processes from the molecular to organismal scale. Biological oscillators can be entrained within a single cell, between cells or to an external input. Using six illustrative examples of entrainable biological oscillators, we discuss the distinctions between entrainment and synchrony and explore features that contribute to a system's propensity to entrain. Entrainment can either enhance or reduce the heterogeneity of oscillations within a cell population, and we provide examples and mechanisms of each case. Finally, we discuss the known functions of entrainment and discuss potential functions from an evolutionary perspective.