Controlling Spiral Dynamics in Excitable Media by a Weakly Localized Pacing

Spiral dynamics controlled by a weakly localized pacing around the spiral tip is investigated. Numerical simulations show two distinct characteristics when the pacing is applied with the weak amplitude for suitable frequencies： for a rigidly .rotating spiral, a transition from rigid rotation to meandering motion is observed, and for unstable spiral waves, spiral breakup can be prevented. Successfully preventing spiral breakup is relevant to the modulation of the tip trajectory induced by a localized pacing.     

The effect of cellular aging on the dynamics of spiral waves

Cellular aging can result in deterioration of electrical coupling, the extension of the action potential duration, and lower excitability of the cell. Those factors are introduced into the Greenberg–Hastings cellular automaton model and the effects of the cellular aging on the dynamics of spiral waves are studied. The numerical results show that a 50% reduction of the coupling strength of aging cells has a little influence on spiral waves. If the coupling strength of aging cells equals zero, the ability for the medium to maintain spiral waves will be reduced by approximately 50% when the aging cell ratio increases from 0 to 0.5, where the reduction of cell excitability plays a major role in inducing disappearance of spiral waves. When the relevant parameters are properly chosen, the cellular aging can lead to the meandering of spiral waves,the emergence of the binary spiral waves, and even the disappearance of spiral waves via the stopping rotation or shrinkage of wave. Physical mechanisms of the above phenomena are analyzed briefly.     

Exploring the role of inhibitory coupling in duplex networks

The electrical coupling of myocytes and fibroblasts can play a role in inhibiting electrical impluse propagation in cardiac muscle. To understand the function of fibroblast–myocyte coupling in the aging heart, the spiral-wave dynamics in the duplex networks with inhibitory coupling is numerically investigated by the Br–Eiswirth model. The numerical results show that the inhibitory coupling can change the wave amplitude, excited phase duration and excitability of the system. When the related parameters are properly chosen, the inhibitory coupling can induce local abnormal oscillation in the system and the Eckhaus instability of the spiral wave. For the dense inhibitory network, the maximal decrement(maximal increment) in the excited phase duration can reach 24.3%(13.4%), whereas the maximal decrement in wave amplitude approaches 28.1%. Upon increasing the inhibitory coupling strength, the system excitability is reduced and even completely suppressed when the interval between grid points in the inhibitory network is small enough. Moreover, the inhibitory coupling can lead to richer phase transition scenarios of the system, such as the transition from a stable spiral wave to turbulence and the transition from a meandering spiral wave to a planar wave. In addition, the self-sustaining planar wave, the unique meandering of spiral wave and inward spiral wave are observed. The physical mechanisms behind the phenomena are analyzed.     

Spatiotemporal multiple coherence resonances and calcium waves in a coupled hepatocyte system

Spatiotemporal multiple coherence resonances for calcium activities induced by weak Gaussian white noise in coupled hepatocytes are studied. It is shown that bi-resonances in hepatocytes are induced by the interplay and competition between noise and coupling of cells, in other words, the cell in network can be excited either by noise or by its neighbour via gap junction which can transfer calcium ions between cells. Furthermore, the intercellular annular calcium waves induced by noise are observed, in which the wave length decreases with noise intensity augmenting but increases monotonically with coupling strength increasing. And for a fixed noise level, there is an optimal coupling strength that makes the coherence resonance reach maximum.     

Stabilization of spiral wave and turbulence in the excitable media using parameter perturbation scheme

This paper proposes a scheme of parameter perturbation to suppress the stable rotating spiral wave, meandering spiral wave and turbulence in the excitable media, which is described by the modified Fitzhug-Nagumo （MFHN） model. The controllable parameter in the MFHN model is perturbed with a weak pulse and the pulse period is decided by the rotating period of the spiral wave approximatively. It is confirmed that the spiral wave and spiral turbulence can be suppressed greatly. Drift and instability of spiral wave can be observed in the numerical simulation tests before the whole media become homogeneous finally.     

Multi-mode Spiral Wave in a Coupled Oscillatory Medium

Multi-mode spiral wave and its breakup in 1-d and 2-d coupled oscillatory media is studied here by theoretic analysis and numerical simulations. The analysis in 1-d system shows that the dispersion relation curve could be nonmonotonic depending on the coupling strength. It may also lead to the coexistence of different wave numbers within one system. Direct numerical observations in 1-d and 2-d systems conform to the prediction of dispersion relation analysis. Our findings indicate that the wave grouping can also be observed in oscillatory media without tip meandering and waves with negative group velocity can occur without inhomogeneity.     

Multiple attractors and generalized synchronization in delayed Mackey--Glass systems

Nonlinear dynamics of the time-delayed Mackey-Glass systems is explored. Coexistent multiple chaotic attractors are found. Attractors with double-scroll structures can be well classified in terms of different return times within one period of the delay time by constructing the Poincare section. Synchronizations of the drive-response Mackey-Glass oscillators are investigated. The critical coupling strength for the emergence of generalized synchronization against the delay time exhibits the interesting resonant behaviour. We reveal that stronger resonance effect may be observed when different attractors are applied to the drivers, i.e., more resonance peaks can be found.     

Dynamics of Vortex-Wave under a Travelling-Wave Modulation

The mechanism of destabilization is studied for the rotating vortices （scroll waves and spiral waves） in excitable media induced by a parameter modulation in the form of a travelling-wave. It is found that a rigid rotating spiral in the two-dimensional （2D） system undergoes a synchronized drift along a straight line, and a 3D scroll ring with its filament closed into a circle can be reoriented only if the direction of wave number of a travelling-wave perturbation is parallel to the ring plane. Then, in order to describe the behaviour of the synchronized drift of spiral wave and the reorientation of scroll ring, the approximate formulas are given to exhibit qualitative agreements with the observed results.     

Development and transition of spiral wave in the coupled Hindmarsh--Rose neurons in two-dimensional space

The dynamics and the transition of spiral waves in the coupled Hindmarsh--Rose (H--R) neurons in two-dimensional space are investigated in the paper. It is found that the spiral wave can be induced and developed in the coupled HR neurons in two-dimensional space, with appropriate initial values and a parameter region given. However, the spiral wave could encounter instability when the intensity of the external current reaches a threshold value of 1.945. The transition of spiral wave is found to be affected by coupling intensity D and bifurcation parameter r. The spiral wave becomes sparse as the coupling intensity increases, while the spiral wave is eliminated and the whole neuronal system becomes homogeneous as the bifurcation parameter increases to a certain threshold value. Then the coupling action of the four sub-adjacent neurons, which is described by coupling coefficient D’, is also considered, and it is found that the spiral wave begins to breakup due to the introduced coupling action from the sub-adjacent neurons (or sites) and together with the coupling action of the nearest-neighbour neurons, which is described by the coupling intensity D.     

Spiral Wave in Small-World Networks of Hodgkin-Huxley Neurons

The effect of small-world connection and noise on of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons are investigated in detail. Some the formation and transition of spiral wave in the networks interesting results are found in our numerical studies, i） The quiescent neurons are activated to propagate electric signal to others by generating and developing spiral wave from spiral seed in small area. ii） A statistical factor is defined to describe the collective properties and phase transition induced by the topology of networks and noise, iii） Stable rotating spiral wave can be generated and keeps robust when the rewiring probability is below certain threshold, otherwise, spiral wave can not be developed from the spiral seed and spiral wave breakup occurs for a stable rotating spiral wave. iv） Gaussian white noise is introduced on the membrane of neurons to study the noise-induced phase transition on spiral wave in small-world networks of neurons. It is confirmed that Ganssian white noise plays active role in supporting and developing spiral wave in the networks of neurons, and appearance of smaller factor of synchronization indicates high possibility to induce spiral wave.     

Meandering Spiral Waves Induced by Time-Periodic Coupling Strength

Effects of time-periodic coupling strength (TPCS) on spiral waves dynamics are studied by numerical computations and mathematical analyses. We find that meandering or drifting spirals waves, which are not observed for the case of constant coupling strength, can be induced by TPCS. In particular, a transition between outward petal and inward petal meandering spirals is observed when the period of TPCS is varied. These two types of meandering spirals are separated by a drifting spiral, which can be induced by TPCS when the period of TPCS is very close to that of rigidly rotating spiral. Similar results can be obtained if the coupling strength is modulated by a rectangle wave. Furthermore, a kinetic model for spiral movement suggested by Di et al., [Phys. Rev. E 85 (2012) 046216] is applied for explaining the above findings. The theoretical results are in good qualitative agreement with numerical simulations.     

三层弱循环耦合可激发介质中螺旋波动力学

采用Bär模型研究了具有循环反馈耦合的三层可激发介质中的螺旋波动力学行为,数值模拟结果显示: 在耦合强度较小时, 在各子系统中可观察到螺旋波漂移或漫游; 当耦合强度稍大时, 相互作用既可以使螺旋波漫游或漂移出系统边界而使子系统回到静息态,还可以使子系统的螺旋波态转变为靶波或湍流态, 并观察到子系统的渐近态依赖初值现象; 继续增大耦合强度, 三个子系统的螺旋波可达到近似广义同步; 当耦合强度更大时, 螺旋波演化为湍流态.     

两层耦合可激发介质中螺旋波转变为平面波

采用Br-Eiswirth模型研究了两层耦合可激发介质中螺旋波的动力学,两层介质通过网络连接,即在每一层介质上,每一列选一个可激发单元作为中心点,在一层介质上同一列的可激发单元只与另一层介质上对应的中心点及其8个邻居有耦合.数值模拟结果表明:通过这种局部耦合,在适当小的耦合强度下两耦合螺旋波可实现同步,增大耦合强度会导致螺旋波漫游和漂移,造成螺旋波不同步,观察到螺旋波与静息态、低频平面波和不规则斑图共存现象.在适当强的耦合强度下,还观察到两螺旋波转变成同步的平面波消失现象.对产生这些现象的物理机理做了讨论.     

离散可激发介质中早期后去极化对螺旋波影响的数值研究

通过考虑某些不应态也可以被激发,在离散可激发介质Greenberg-Hasting模型中引入早期后去极化行为,研究了早期后去极化对螺旋波的影响.数值结果表明:在适当选择参数下,早期后去极化对螺旋波有很大影响,这些影响包括使螺旋波漫游、漂移和破碎,导致螺旋波波纹被扭曲和波臂粗细交替变化,以及导致螺旋波的周期在两个值之间交替变化,产生从稳定螺旋波到呼吸螺旋波和反螺旋波的相变等.当不应态的激发阈值很高时,早期后去极化对螺旋波没有影响.对发生上述现象作了简要的讨论. 关键词： 离散可激发介质 螺旋波 早期后去极化     

交替行为对螺旋波影响的数值模拟研究

在离散可激发介质Greenberg-Hasting模型中引入交替(alternans)行为,研究了交替行为对螺旋波的影响.数值结果表明:在适当选择参数下,交替对螺旋波有很大影响,例如交替导致螺旋波的形状振荡,形成呼吸螺旋波,交替使螺旋波漫游、漂移,甚至使螺旋波漫游出系统的边界,交替使螺旋波破碎形成小螺旋波、反靶波和时空混沌等,首次在均匀介质中观察到交替导致传导障碍,使螺旋波破碎和消失,并对发生这些现象的机理进行了分析. 关键词： 离散可激发介质 螺旋波 靶波 漫游     

激发介质相对不应态对螺旋波动力学行为的影响

采用元胞自动机模型研究激发介质相对不应态对螺旋波动力学行为的影响。数值模拟表明：元胞激发阈值存在一临界区间,该区间的螺旋波周期会突然增加,并存在一最大周期,在合适的系统尺寸和状态数下,螺旋波周期不再受相对不应态的影响而只取决于系统的激发阈值;相对不应态导致螺旋波“Z”型漫游、小范围无规律漫游、花瓣状漫游、锯齿状漫游、风车状漫游等复杂的波头运动。观察到稳定螺旋波、漫游螺旋波和螺旋波消失,并对产生这些现象的机制作简要的解释。     

钾扩散耦合引起的心脏中螺旋波的变化

在某些情况下, 心肌细胞外的钾离子浓度是变化的, 钾离子的横向扩散会导致细胞外钾离子的聚集和产生钾扩散耦合, 用考虑钾扩散耦合的Luo-Rudy相I心脏模型研究了钾扩散耦合对螺旋波动力学的影响. 数值模拟结果表明: 当钾扩散耦合比较强时, 钾扩散耦合使细胞外钾离子浓度先升高, 然后做规则振荡, 导致螺旋波做无规则漫游; 观察到螺旋波的波臂宽度和频率随钾扩散耦合的强度增大而减小, 这样, 当钾扩散耦合足够强时, 钾扩散耦合可以消除螺旋波和时空混沌. 关键词： 钾扩散耦合 螺旋波 时空混沌     

利用短期心脏记忆消除螺旋波和时空混沌

在Luo-Rudy的心脏模型中引入了记忆效应, 该记忆效应表现为膜间电压的延迟耦合. 研究了记忆效应对螺旋波的影响, 数值模拟结果表明:心脏记忆可导致螺旋波无规则漫游;当延迟时间适当选取时, 增加记忆强度会导致螺旋波的频率减小, 如果记忆强度超过临界值, 心脏记忆效应还可以使螺旋波和时空混沌消失, 因为含时外行钾离子电流被心脏记忆过度抑制.     

非对称耦合两层可激发介质中的螺旋波动力学

本文采用Bär-Eiswirth模型研究了两层可激发介质中螺旋波的动力学, 两层介质采用抑制和兴奋性非对称耦合. 数值模拟结果表明: 兴奋性非对称耦合可以促进两个不同频率的螺旋波锁频, 即使初始频率相差大, 两螺旋波也能实现锁频, 这种耦合使两个螺旋波具有最强的锁频能力; 当两层介质采用抑制性非对称耦合时, 只有当两个初始螺旋波的频率差比较小才能实现锁频, 而且比一般扩散耦合的锁频范围窄, 两螺旋波锁频能力达到最低水平; 当耦合强度和控制参数适当选取时, 抑制性和兴奋性非对称耦合既可以使其中一层介质维持螺旋波态, 使另一层介质中的螺旋波演化到静息态或低频靶波态, 也可以使两层介质中的螺旋波都漫游, 或都转变成靶波, 最后这两个靶波要么消失, 要么转变成平面波状的振荡斑图, 而且两层介质振荡是反相的, 此外在模拟中还观察到两螺旋波局部间歇锁频现象, 这些结果有助于人们理解在心脏系统中出现的复杂现象.     

复Ginzburg-Landau方程中模螺旋波的稳定性研究

研究了复Ginzburg-Landau方程系统中模螺旋波与其他斑图在同一平面内的竞争行为,发现演化结果在系统参数平面内可分为四个主要区域:在I区和III区中,模螺旋波与相螺旋波相比稳定性较差,模螺旋波的空间被相螺旋波所入侵.在II区中,模螺旋波具有较强的稳定性,相螺旋波的空间被模螺旋波所入侵.在IV区内,由于时空混沌所导致的频率不稳定性,演化的结果较为复杂.我们通过对模螺旋波、相螺旋波以及时空混沌的频率分析,发现当模螺旋波的系统参数为α1=-1.34,β1=0.35时,较高频率的模螺旋波具有较好的稳定性,高频模螺旋波可以入侵低频斑图空间.竞争结果主要受系统变量实部的频率影响,频率分析所得到的理论结果与数值实验结果符合得非常好.