Qualitative Modelling of Complex Biological Systems: a Nonlinear Dynamical System Approach

Our main goal is to illustrate one of the new possible methodological approaches for the study of complex biological systems. We refer to this approach as Qualitative Modelling and we consider it particularly well suited for the study of neural systems of intermediate to high complexity. Complex biological system are formed by a large number of functionally meaningful components (cells in a tissue, neurons in a ganglion, etc.). However, the behavioral complexity of these systems is related more to the intrincate multitude of ways in which these components can interact, rather than to the element's complexity (cells are themselves complex systems). Qualitative modelling is aimed at describing the organizing principles which control the concerted work of a multitude of components which give rise to high level biological functions.