title: Conduction block in one-dimensional heart fibers.
abstract: We present a nonlinear dynamical systems analysis of the transition to conduction block in one-dimensional cardiac fibers. We study a simple model of wave propagation in heart tissue that depends only on the recovery of action potential duration and conduction velocity. If the recovery function has slope >or=1 and the velocity recovery function is nonconstant, rapid activation causes dynamical heterogeneity and finally conduction block away from the activation site. This dynamical mechanism may play a role in the initiation and breakup of spiral waves in excitable media.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bodenschatz
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006327:Heart Block / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular