Sungwoo Ahns Personal Home Page

Sungwoo Ahn

I'm an assistant professor at East Carolina University. Office: Austin 216. Phone: (252)737-1556. Please contact me : ahns15 at ecu dot edu

Mailing Address:

Department of Mathematics,
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858.

Teaching in Fall 2020

MATH 4331 (Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations).

MATH 3256 (Linear Algebra).

Teaching in Spring 2021

MATH 2121 (Calculus for the Life Sciences I).

MATH 3256 (Linear Algebra).

Research Interests

My research has focused on the development and analysis of mathematical models relating to neuronal systems in the brain. One of the main goals of my work is to understand how the emergent firing patterns of neuronal networks in the brain depend on the intrinsic properties of the neurons and its underlying network architecture. More specificially, my interests are the following:

Mathematical Biology and Computational Neuroscience
Applied Dynamical Systems
Physiology of Basal Ganglia of Parkinson's Disease
Physiology of Drug/Alcohol Addiction
Olfactory Systems
Discrete Dynamical Systems
Social-Status Dependent Behavioral Decision Making

Read about my research at IUPUI Newsroom

GRANTS

ECU Teaching grant "Improving student?s active mathematical learning and problem-solving skills with video modules ", PI, 2019-2020
Simons Foundation Mathematics and Physical Sciences-Collaboration Grants for Mathematicians (award number: 581290), PI, 2018-2023 (terminated due to the foundation's policy).
ECU Interdisciplinary research grant "Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral shift between opposing behaviors", co-PI, 2017-2018
ECU Teaching grant "Enhancing student's mathematical learning and writing skills", PI, 2017-2018
Korea-U.S. Science Cooperation Center "East-coastal natural science education and career development symposium for young generations", co-PI, 2018
Korea-U.S. Science Cooperation Center "East-costal science education symposium", co-PI, 2017
ECU Intramural startup funding, PI, 2015-2018

Reviewer/Referee for Professional Journals

Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems-Series B
Frontiers in Physics
Frontiers in Psychology
PLOS ONE
International Journal of Neuroscience
Journal of Biological Systems
Journal of Theoretical Biology
Mathematical Reviews
Neurocomputing
Physical Review Letters
Physical Review X

Publications and Preprints

Google Scholar - Published papers and citations

(Book Chapter) L.L. Rubchinsky, C. Park, and S. Ahn (2020) Fine Temporal Structure of Synchronization of Neural Oscillations in the Basal Ganglia in Parkinson?s Disease. In: Jaeger D., Jung R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience. Springer, New York, NY Link to the paper

K.N. Clements, S.A. Orr, S. Ahn, C. Park, F.K. Heagy, T.H. Miller, M. Kassai, and F. A. Issa (2020). Socially mediated shift in neural circuit activation regulated by synergistic neuromodulatory signaling (under review)

S. Ahn, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2020). Temporal patterns of dispersal-induced synchronization in population dynamics. Journal of Theoretical Biology 490:110159 (IF: 0.71. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Agricultural and Biological Sciences). Link to the paper

E.A. Malaia, S. Ahn, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2019). Dysregulation of temporal dynamics of synchronous neural activity in adolescents on autism spectrum. Autism Research 13(1):24-31 (IF: 1.62. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neuroscience). Link to the paper

A.M. McCane, S. Ahn, L.L. Rubchinsky, S.S. Janetsian-Fritz, D.N. Linsenbardt, C.L. Czachowski, and C.C. Lapish (2018). COMT inhibition alters cued-evoked oscillatory dynamics during alcohol drinking in the rat. ENEURO. 0326-18 (IF: 1.72. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neuroscience). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0326-18.2018. Link to the paper

S. Ahn, S.E. Zauber, R.M. Worth, T. Witt, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2018). Neural synchronization: average strength vs. temporal patterning. Clinical Neurophysiology 129:842-844 (IF: 1.56. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neurology). DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.clinph.2018.01.063. Link to the paper

C. Park, K.N. Clements, F.A. Issa and S. Ahn (2018). Effects of social experience on the habituation rate of zebrafish startle escape response: Empirical and computational analyses. Front Neural Circuits 12:7 (IF: 2.17. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience). DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00007. Link to the paper

S. Ahn and L.L. Rubchinsky (2017). Potential Mechanisms and Functions of Intermittent Neural Synchronization. Front Comput Neurosci 11:44 (IF: 1.08. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neuroscience). DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2017.00044. Link to the paper

T. Miller, K. Clements, S. Ahn, C. Park, E.H. Ji, and F.A. Issa (2017). Social status-dependent shift in neural circuit activation affects decision-making. J Neurosci 37 (8) 2137-2148 (IF: 4.47. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neuroscience) (Highlighted by PNAS Journal Club). DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1548-16.2017. Link to the paper

L.L. Rubchinsky, C. Park, and S. Ahn (2017) Dynamics of Intermittent Synchronization of Neural Activity. In: Advances in Dynamics, Patterns, Cognition. S. Igor, y A. Pikovsky, N.F. Rulkov, L.S. Tsimring (eds.) Link to the book

S. Ahn, S.E. Zauber, R.M. Worth, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2016). Synchronized Beta-Band Oscillations in a Model of the Globus Pallidus - Subthalamic Nucleus Network under External Input. Front Comput Neurosci 10:134 (IF: 1.08. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neuroscience). Link to the paper

W. Just and S. Ahn (2016). Lengths of attractors and transients in neuronal networks with random connectivities. SIAM J Discrete Math 30(2): 912-933 (IF: 0.86. Ranked as Q2 quartile in Mathematics). Link to the paper

L.L. Rubchinsky and S. Ahn (2015). Short desynchronization epochs in neural synchronization: detection, mechanisms, and functions. BMC Neuroscience 16 (Suppl 1):P3 (IF: 1.12. Ranked as Q2 quartile in Neuroscience). (DOI:10.1186/1471-2202-16-S1-P3)Link to the paper

S. Ratnadurai-Giridhara, S.E. Zauber, R.M. Worth, T. Witt, S. Ahn, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2015). Temporal patterning of neural synchrony in the basal ganglia in Parkinson's disease. Clin Neurophysiol 127:1743-1745 (IF: 1.56. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neurology).Link to the paper

S. Ahn, S.E. Zauber, R.M. Worth, T. Witt, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2015). Interaction of synchronized dynamics in cortical and basal ganglia networks in Parkinson's disease. Eur J Neurosci 42(5):2164-2171 (IF: 1.76. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neuroscience).Link to the paper

L.L. Rubchinsky, S. Ahn, and C. Park (2014). Dynamics of desynchronized episodes in intermittent synchronization. Front Phys 2:38 (IF: 0.52. Ranked as Q2 quartile in Mathematical Physics) .Link to the paper

S. Ahn, S.E. Zauber, R.M. Worth, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2014). The response of the subthalamo-pallidal networks of the Basal Ganglia to oscillatory cortical input in Parkinson's disease. BMC Neuroscience 15 (Suppl 1):P57 (IF: 1.12. Ranked as Q2 quartile in Neuroscience). (DOI:10.1186/1471-2202-15-S1-P57). Link to the paper

S.E. Zauber, S. Ahn, R.M. Worth, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2014). Oscillatory neural activity of anteromedial Globus Pallidus internus in Tourette syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol pii: S1388-2457(14)00012-1 (IF: 1.56. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Neurology).Link to the paper

S. Ahn, J. Solfest, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2014). Fine temporal structure of cardiorespiratory synchronization. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 306(5):H755-763 (IF: 1.61. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine).Link to the paper

S. Ahn, D. Linsenbardt, C. Lapish, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2013). Repeated injections of D-Amphetamine evoke rapid and dynamic changes in phase synchrony between the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Front Behav Neurosci 7:92 (IF: 1.75. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Behavioral Neuroscience). Link to the paper

S. Ahn and L.L. Rubchinsky (2013). Short desynchronization episodes prevail in synchronous dynamics of human brain rhythms. Chaos 23, 013138 (IF: 0.72. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Applied Mathematics). Link to the paper

S. Ahn and L.L. Rubchinsky (2013). Fine temporal structure of neural synchronization. BMC Neuroscience 14 (Suppl 1):P336 (IF: 1.12. Ranked as Q2 quartile in Neuroscience). (DOI:10.1186/1471-2202-14-S1-P336). Link to the paper

S. Ahn, L.L. Rubchinsky, and C. Lapish (2013). Dynamical reorganization of synchronous activity patterns in prefrontal cortex-hippocampus networks during behavioral sensitization. Cerebral Cortex 24(10):2553-2561 (IF: 3.89. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience). (doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht110). Link to the paper

W. Just, S. Ahn and D. Terman (2013) Neuronal Networks: A Discrete Model. In: Mathematical Concepts and Methods in Modern Biology. R. Robeva and T. Hodge (eds.) Link to the AMAZON

S. Ahn and W. Just (2012). Digraphs vs. dynamics in discrete models of neuronal networks. Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems Series B 17(5):1365-1381 (IF: 0.86. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics). Link to the paper

S. Ahn, C. Park, and L.L. Rubchinsky (2011). Detecting the temporal structure of intermittent phase-locking. Phys. Rev. E 84, 016201 (IF: 0.98. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Condensed Matter Physics). Link to the paper

Ph.D. Thesis of Sungwoo Ahn (2010). Transient and attractor dynamics in models for odor discrimination. Link to my thesis

S. Ahn, B. Smith, A. Borisyuk, and D. Terman (2010). Analyzing neuronal networks using discrete-time dynamics. Physica D 239, 515-528 (IF: 0.83. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Condensed Matter Physics). Link to the paper

W. Just, S. Ahn, and D. Terman (2008). Minimal attractors in digraph system models of neuronal networks. Physica D 237, 3186-3196 (IF: 0.83. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Condensed Matter Physics). Link to the paper

D. Terman, S. Ahn, X. Wang, and W. Just (2008). Reducing neuronal networks to discrete dynamics. Physica D 237(3), 324-338 (IF: 0.83. Ranked as Q1 quartile in Condensed Matter Physics). Link to the paper