From a PDE model to an ODE model of dynamics of synaptic depression (Q713368)

This paper discusses the connection between two models of synaptic depression: the PDE model of \textit{A. Bielecki} and \textit{P. Kalita} [J. Math. Biol. 56, No. 4, 559--576 (2008; Zbl 1141.92009)], and the ODE model of \textit{F. Aristizabal} and \textit{M.I. Glavinovič} [Biol. Cybern. 90, No. 1, 3--18 (2004; Zbl 1075.92010)]. It is shown that this connection (in contrast to a suggestion by Aristizabal and Glavinovič) involves a singular perturbation of the PDE model with singularities in the operator and in transmission conditions. The main result of the paper says that if the diffusion is fast and if the intensities of passing from one pool to another are small, the PDE model of Bielecki and Kalita is well approximated by the ODE model of Aristizabal and Glavinovič. For the related stochastic processes this means that the fast Brownian motion in three adjacent regions with small intensities of passing from one region to another may be approximated by a three-states Markov chain.