title: Heat transfer in Fitzhugh-Nagumo models.
abstract: An extended FitzHugh-Nagumo model coupled with dynamical heat transfer in tissue, as described by a bioheat equation, is derived and confronted with experiments. The main outcome of this analysis is that traveling pulses and spiral waves of electric activity produce temperature variations on the order of tens of mu degrees C. In particular, the model predicts that a spiral wave's tip, heating the surrounding medium as a consequence of the Joule effect, leads to characteristic hot spots. This process could possibly be used to have a direct visualization of the tip's position by using thermal detectors.
authors.affiliation: Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo M. Picone, CNR, I-00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cherubini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004735:Energy Transfer / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*