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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Spiral Ganglion Neuron Explant Culture and Electrophysiology on Multi Electrode Arrays
Published on: October 19, 2016
Spiral formation and degeneration in heterogeneous excitable media
Rita Toth1, Ben de Lacy Costello, Christopher Stone
1University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Spontaneous spiral formation occurs when an excitation wave is input to a heterogeneous network of low- and high-light-intensity cells projected onto a light-sensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. The range of network conditions where spirals form is increased if two waves are input at critical time intervals. Spirals degenerate to form multiple spirals and spirals trapped within excitable cells. Spiral formation and degeneration is dependent on network excitability, cell size, and network size. Results exhibit parallels with spiral formation in excitable biological systems such as the heart.
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