Electrical and Electronics Engineering PhD Thesis Defense by Hamideh Ramezani

KOÇ UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

PhD THESIS DEFENSE BY HAMIDEH RAMEZANI

Title: Communication Theoretical Foundations of Nervous System

Speaker: Hamideh Ramezani

Time: February 02, 2018, 14:00

Place: ENG 208

Koç University

Rumeli Feneri Yolu

Sariyer, Istanbul

Thesis Committee Members:

Prof. Ozgur B. Akan (Advisor, Koc University)

Prof. Fatih Alagoz (Bogazici University)

Prof. Alper T. Erdogan (Koc University)

Prof. Hale Saybasılı (Bogazici University)

Prof. Kemal S. Turker (Koc University)

Abstract:

Nanotechnology is one of the frontiers of the scientific research in the current age having a huge set of applications that are being realized in a variety of environments. Although nanotechnology promises a big revolution in the future, the implementation challenges are also huge. Due to their simple architecture, consisting of a small number of molecules along with power and size limitations, nanomachines have scarce processing, memory and networking capabilities. These limitations can be overcome by dense deployment of nanomachines in networked environments, termed as nanonetworks. Different communication paradigms are suggested for the physical realization of nanonetworks such as nanomechanical, acoustic and electromagnetic. However, the most promising one is molecular communication (MC). MC systems exist in nature and have evolved over billions of years. These systems can be found all around and within us. Understanding this molecular signaling among living cells from information and communication technological (ICT) perspective provides an insight into the ICT based fundamentals of biological systems as well as inspiration for developing novel nanonetworking techniques. Therefore, in this thesis, we focus on molecular communication among nerve cells, known an neuro-spike communication, to establish and introduce the fundamentals of molecular information and communication science. For this aim, we first perform the information and communication theoretical modeling and analysis of different processes involved in neuro-spike communication. Then, we focus on deriving a closed-form equation for the achievable rate of neuro-spike communication. Moreover, we highlight the significance of molecular information science in life sciences by introducing potential information and communication theoretical diagnosis and treatment techniques for diseases caused by malfunction of nervous nanonetwork.