title: Propagation through heterogeneous substrates in simple excitable media models.
abstract: The interaction of waves and obstacles is simulated by adding heterogeneities to a FitzHugh-Nagumo model and a cellular automata model. The cellular automata model is formulated to account for heterogeneities by modelling the interaction between current sources and current sinks. In both models, wave fronts propagate if the size of the heterogeneities is small, and block if the size of the heterogeneities is large. For intermediate values, wave fronts break up into numerous spiral waves. The theoretical models give insights concerning spiral wave formation in heterogeneous excitable media. (c) 2002 American Institute of Physics.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nonlinear Dynamics in Physiology and Medicine, Department of Physiology, McIntyer Medical Sciences Building, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6.
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bub
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrier