Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study, theoretical study)

Standing excitation waves in the heart induced by strong alternating electric fields med./bio.

By: Gray RA, Mornev OA, Jalife J, Aslanidi OV, Pertsov AM
Published in: Phys Rev Lett 2001; 87 (16): 168104
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of sinusoidal electric fields on cardiac tissue both experimentally and numerically.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 5–20 Hz
Exposure duration: 1 or 2 s
  • U = 1.2 V - 60 V

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 5–20 Hz
Type
Exposure duration 1 or 2 s
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Electric fields were applied through ring shaped electrodes along the long (vertical) axis of isolated rabbit hearts during the heart`s normal rhythm.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
cf. remarks - - - - U = 1.2 V - 60 V

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The authors found that periodic forcing at 5-20 Hz using voltage applied in the bathing solution could stop the propagation of excitation waves by producing standing waves of membrane depolarization. The patterns were independent of the driving frequency in contrast to classical standing waves. The stimulus strength required for pattern formation was large compared to the excitation threshold. A novel tridomain representation of cardiac tissue was required to reproduce the behavior numerically.

Study character:

Study funded by