Using Phase Response Curves to Understand Neuronal Synchronization and Sleep

" The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity. " ∼ Einstein To Chrissie: I never would have made it to this point without you. And to my parents, who gave me the gift of curiosity. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The last few years spent working toward my Ph.D. have been the best of my life, and I have a number of people to thank for that. First of all, my wife: thank you, Chrissie, for your encouragement and wisdom throughout this journey. Whenever two paths diverged and I was uncertain of which to take, you were always by my side, helping me to think clearly and bolstering my attitude with the comfort that no matter what happened, we would enjoy the adventure together. My parents have helped me reach this point through innumerable acts of sacrifice and love, many of which I'm sure I am unaware of. But two things do stand out: the joy of learning that they instilled, and the freedom they gave to pursue my passions. My parents were constantly posing riddles and math problems to me as a child, and they struck a good balance between making it fun while at the same time pushing me to improve. I still remember my mom getting me to count all the way up to 28 (but not a number higher–it was too hard!) in kindergarden. And I remember my dad taking me out to breakfast my senior year of high school to make sure I knew it was all right with him if I deviated from the family tradition by becoming a physicist instead of a physician. Thanks for everything, Mom and Dad. My two advisors, Michal Zochowski and Victoria Booth, are by far the biggest reason that working toward my Ph.D. has been an enjoyable process. They have guided my investigation of very interesting problems while treating me as a colleague, giving me the freedom to disagree and to explore my own ideas. They have taught me iii to communicate scientific ideas efficiently and with excitement, both when writing and giving talks. They have also been enormously helpful …