Kinematics of rigidly rotating spiral waves

Spiral waves rigidly rotating in excitable media are studied by use of a free-boundary approach. This study reveals the selection principle which determines the shape and the rotation frequency of spiral waves in an unbounded medium with a given excitability. It is shown that a rigidly rotating spiral in a medium with a strongly reduced refractoriness is supported within a range of the medium excitability restricted by two universal limits. At the low excitability limit the spiral core radius diverges, while at the high excitability limit it vanishes. The simulations performed for the medium excitability higher than the high excitability limit reveal nonstationary rotating waves, which considerably differ from well-studied meandering spiral waves. It is shown how the proposed free-boundary approach can be extended to the case of an arbitrary refractoriness. The predictions of the free-boundary approach are in good agreement with the results from numerical simulations of the underlying reaction-diffusion model and with asymptotics derived earlier for highly and weakly excitable media.     

Motion of spiral tip driven by local forcing in excitable media

We study the motion of a spiral wave controlled by a local periodic forcing imposed on a region around the spiral tip in an excitable medium. Three types of trajectories of spiral tip are observed： the epicycloid-like meandering, the resonant drift, and the hypocycloid-like meandering. The frequency of the spiral is sensitive to the local periodic forcing. The dependency of spiral frequency on the amplitude and size of local periodic forcing are presented. In addition, we show how the drift speed and direction are adjusted by the amplitude and phase of local periodic forcing, which is consistent with a theoretical analysis based on the weak deformation approximation.     

Scroll wave instability controlled by external fluctuations

Scroll waves, a characteristic dynamical pattern of three-dimensional excitable media, exhibit an instability under low excitability conditions. This unstable regime can be partially controlled by using random forcing in a clear manifestation of the ordering role of a stochastic external perturbation. Analytical and numerical results confirm this unexpected noise effect.     

Pacemaker-guided noise-induced spatial periodicity in excitable media

We study the impact of subthreshold periodic pacemaker activity and internal noise on the spatial dynamics of excitable media. For this purpose, we examine two systems that both consist of diffusively coupled units. In the first case, the local dynamics of the units is driven by a simple one-dimensional model of excitability with a piece-wise linear potential. In the second case, a more realistic biological system is studied, and the local dynamics is driven by a model for calcium oscillations. Internal noise is introduced via the τ-leap stochastic integration procedure and its intensity is determined by the finite size of each constitutive system unit. We show that there exists an intermediate level of internal stochasticity for which the localized pacemaker activity maps best into coherent periodic waves, whose spatial frequency is uniquely determined by the local subthreshold forcing. Via an analytical treatment of the simple minimal model for the excitable spatially extended system, we explicitly link the pacemaker activity with the spatial dynamics and determine necessary conditions that warrant the observation of the phenomenon in excitable media. Our results could prove useful for the understanding of interplay between local and global agonists affecting the functioning of tissue and organs.     

Varieties of spiral wave behavior: An experimentalist's approach to the theory of excitable media

Spiral waves in diverse excitable media exhibit strikingly variegated behavior. Mechanistic interpretations of excitability in laboratory systems are commonly tested by comparing the wavelength, period, and meander patterns of the model's spiral waves with laboratory observations, but models seem seldom to be rejected by such tests. The reason may be that almost any excitable medium behaves in many respects like almost any other, if its parameters are properly adjusted within a reasonable range. What generalizations can be made about "excitable media" in the absence of more specifications? It would be useful to distinguish such generic features from idiosyncrasies of specific models. The range of behavioral flexibility of the FitzHugh-Nagumo excitable medium is explored by varying two of its parameters and comparing the results with other excitable media to suggest a generic pattern of parameter dependence. The results exhibit the remarkable diversity of rotor behavior in a single model and provide a database for quantitative testing of mathematical generalizations.     

Periodic forcing of scroll rings and control of Winfree turbulence in excitable media

By simulations of the Barkley model, action of uniform periodic nonresonant forcing on scroll rings and wave turbulence in three-dimensional excitable media is investigated. Sufficiently strong rapid forcing converts expanding scroll rings into the collapsing ones and suppresses the Winfree turbulence caused by the negative tension of wave filaments. Slow strong forcing has an opposite effect, leading to expansion of scroll rings and induction of the turbulence. These effects are explained in the framework of the phenomenological kinematic theory of scroll waves.     

Dynamical mechanism of anticipating synchronization in excitable systems

We analyze the phenomenon of anticipating synchronization of two excitable systems with unidirectional delayed coupling which are subject to the same external forcing. We demonstrate for different paradigms of excitable system that, due to the coupling, the excitability threshold for the slave system is always lower than that for the master. As a consequence the two systems respond to a common external forcing with different response times. This allows us to explain in a simple way the mechanism behind the phenomenon of anticipating synchronization in excitable systems.     

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.     

时空调制对可激发介质螺旋波波头动力学行为影响及控制研究

本文首先研究了时空调制对可激发介质中周期螺旋波波头动力学行为的影响. 随着时空调制的增大, 螺旋波经历了周期螺旋波、外滚螺旋波、旅行螺旋波和内滚螺旋波的显著变化. 通过定义序参量来定量的描述由时空调制引起的螺旋波在不同态之间非平衡跃迁的临界条件, 及漫游螺旋波波头圆滚圆半径随调制参数的变化情况. 当时空调制增大到某个临界值时, 螺旋波发生了破碎; 再增加时空调制, 螺旋波则发生了衰减, 系统最终演化为空间均匀静息态. 在文中给出了螺旋波发生破碎和衰减的机理和原因. 最后将时空调制方法运用于漫游螺旋波, 实现了将漫游螺旋波控制成周期螺旋波, 或将其控制为空间均匀静息态.     

The inverse excitation-induced abnormal spiral wave

The effects of a local constant forcing on spiral waves in two-dimensional excitable media described by Bär model are investigated. A constant external forcing is imposed on the core of spiral wave, leading to parameter variability of a medium. It is found that the forcing can significantly alter the shape and rotation period of spiral wave when the values of related parameters are properly chosen. The change of wave structure is attributed to the transition from normal excitation to inverse excitation in the forced medium. An abnormal spiral wave with a very thick spiral arm has been observed. The physical mechanism underlying these phenomena is theoretically analyzed.     

External forcing of spiral waves

The effect of an external rhythm on rotating spiral waves in excitable media is investigated. Parameters of the unperturbed medium were chosen, such that the organizing spiral tip describes meandering (hypocyclic) trajectories, which are the most general shape for the experimentally observed systems. Periodical modulation of excitability in a model of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction forces meandering spiral tips to describe trajectories that are not found at corresponding stationary conditions. For different modulation periods, two types of resonance drift, phase-locked tip motion, a spectrum of hypocyclic trajectories, and complex multifrequency patterns were computed. The computational results are complemented by experimental data obtained for periodically changing illumination of the photosensitive BZ reaction. The observed drastic deformation of the tip trajectory is considered as an efficient means to study and to control wave processes in excitable media.     

Selection of spiral waves in excitable media with a phase wave at the wave back

Universal relationships between the medium excitability and the angular velocity and the core radius of rigidly rotating spiral waves in excitable media are derived for situations where the wave front is a trigger wave and the wave back is a phase wave. Two universal limits restricting the region of existence of spiral waves in the parameter space are demonstrated. The predictions of the free-boundary approach are in good quantitative agreement with results from numerical reaction-diffusion simulations performed on the Kessler-Levine model.     

间接延迟耦合可激发介质中螺旋波的演化

采用Bär 模型研究了通过被动介质间接延迟耦合的两层可激发介质中螺旋波的相互作用. 数值模拟结果表明: 延迟耦合可以促进两个螺旋波的同步, 也可导致从螺旋波到集体振荡、各种靶波、时空混沌态或静息态的转变; 在这个耦合系统中还观察到周期 2和周期3螺旋波以及螺旋波漫游和漂移现象; 对产生这些现象的物理机制做了讨论. 关键词： 螺旋波 被动介质 时间延迟耦合 同步     

Coherence resonance in an excitable potential well

The excitable behaviour is considered as motion of a particle in a potential field in the presence of dissipation. The dynamics of the oscillator proposed in the present paper corresponds to the excitable behaviour in a potential well under condition of positive dissipation. Type-II excitability of the offered system results from intrinsic peculiarities of the potential well, whose shape depends on a system state. Concept of an excitable potential well is introduced. The effect of coherence resonance and self-oscillation excitation in a state-dependent potential well under condition of positive dissipation are explored in numerical experiments.     

The influence of long-range links on spiral waves and their application for control

The influence of long-range links on spiral waves in an excitable medium has been investigated.Spatiotemporal dynamics in an excitable small-world network transform remarkably when we increase the long-range connection probability P.Spiral waves with few perturbations,broken spiral waves,pseudo spiral turbulence,synchronous oscillations,and homogeneous rest state are discovered under different network structures.Tip number is selected to detect non-equilibrium phase transition between different spatiotemporal patterns.The Kuramoto order parameter is used to identify these patterns and explain the emergence of the rest state.Finally,we use long-range links to successfully control spiral waves and spiral turbulence.     

Negative filament tension at high excitability in a model of cardiac tissue

One of the fundamental mechanisms for the onset of turbulence in 3D excitable media is negative filament tension. Thus far, negative tension has always been obtained in media under low excitability. For this reason, its application to normal (nonischemic) cardiac tissue has been questionable, as such cardiac turbulence typically occurs at high excitability. Here, we report expansion of scroll rings (low curvature negative filament tension) in a medium with high excitability by numerical integration of the Luo-Rudy model of cardiac tissue. We discuss the relation between negative tension and the meandering of 2D spiral waves and the possible applications to cardiac modeling.     

Parameter dependence of stochastic resonance in the stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley neuron

Recently, the phenomena of stochastic resonance (SR) have attracted much attention in the studies of the excitable systems under inherent noise, in particular, nervous systems. We study SR in a stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley neuron under Ornstein-Uhlenbeck noise and periodic stimulus, focusing on the dependence of properties of SR on stimulus parameters. We find that the dependence of the critical forcing amplitude on the frequency of the periodic stimulus shows a bell-shaped structure with a minimum at the stimulus frequency, which is quite different from the monotonous dependence observed in the bistable system at a small frequency range. The frequency dependence of the critical forcing amplitude is explained in connection with the firing onset bifurcation curve of the Hodgkin-Huxley neuron in the deterministic situation. The optimal noise intensity for maximal amplification is also found to show a similar structure.     

The influence of long-range links on spiral waves and its application for control

The influence of long-range links on spiral waves in excitable medium has been investigated. Spatiotemporal dynamics in excitable small-world network transforms remarkably when we increase the long-range connection probability P. Spiral waves with few perturbations, broken spiral waves, pseudo spiral turbulence, synchronous oscillations, and homogeneous rest state are discovered under different network structures. Tip number is selected to detect non-equilibrium phase transition between different spatiotemporal patterns. The Kuramoto order parameter is used to identify these patterns and explain the emergence of the rest state. Finally, we use long-range links to control spiral wave and spiral turbulence successfully.     

Global organization of dynamics in oscillatory heterogeneous excitable media

An oscillatory heterogeneous excitable medium undergoes a transition from periodic target patterns to a bursting rhythm driven by the spontaneous initiation and termination of spiral waves as coupling or density is reduced. We illustrate these phenomena in monolayers of chick embryonic heart cells using calcium-sensitive fluorescent dyes. These results are modeled in a heterogeneous cellular automaton in which the neighborhood of interaction and cell density is modified. Parameters that give rise to bursting rhythms are organized in distinct zones in parameter space, leading to a global organization that should be applicable to the dynamics in a large class of excitable media.     

Applying a global pulse disturbance to eliminate spiral waves in models of cardiac muscle

Removal of spiral waves in cardiac muscle is necessary because of their threat to life. Common methods for this removal are to apply a local disturbance to the media, such as a periodic forcing. However, most of these methods accelerate the beating of the cardiac muscle, resulting in the aggravation of the ventricular tachycardia, which directly threatens life. In the present study, in order to clear off spiral waves, a global pulse-disturbance is applied to the media based on three models of cardiac muscle. It is found that the spiral waves are eliminated and the frequency of the cardiac muscle is decreased in a short time, and finally, the state of the medium reaches the normal oscillation, which supports a target waves. Our method sheds light on the removal of spiral waves in cardiac muscle and can prevent the ventricular tachycardia as well as the ventricular fibrillation.