Singer, Benjamin2013-05-092013-05-092000Singer, B. (2000), Oscillations and traveling waves of calcium: a simplified model, Research Letters in the Information and Mathematical Sciences, 1, 79-941175-2777http://hdl.handle.net/10179/4389We construct a heuristic model of calcium oscillations in pancreatic acinar cells. The model is based on the two-state model of Sneyd et al. (Sneyd, J., A. LeBeau and D. Yule, 2000, Traveling waves of calcium in pancreatic acinar cells: model construction and bifurcation analysis, Physica D, in press) and is similar in spirit to the FitzHugh reduction of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations. The simpli¯ed model successfully reproduces the oscillatory behavior and wave behaviour of the more complex model. In particular, the simpli¯ed model provides an example of a simple, physiologically relevant model that has a T-point and an associated spiral branch of homoclinic orbits.enCalcium oscillationsArticle