Transient and periodic spatiotemporal structures in a reaction-diffusion-mechanics system

Area of Science:

• Complex systems dynamics
• Mathematical modeling of biological systems
• Reaction-diffusion systems

Background:

• Excitable media exhibit complex spatiotemporal dynamics.
• Understanding excitation spreading is crucial in biological and physical systems.
• Globally coupled reaction-diffusion models offer insights into collective behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate transient structures induced by localized stimuli in contractile fibers.
• Analyze excitation spreading regimes and structure origins.
• Explore the impact of contraction types and coupling strengths on dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Developed a two-component globally coupled reaction-diffusion model.
• Studied transient spatiotemporal structures induced by weak space-time localized stimuli.
• Analyzed various excitation spreading regimes and contraction types.

Main Results:

• Observed the emergence of multiple excitation pulses from a single stimulus (after-excitation effect).
• Demonstrated that this effect can lead to long-lasting transient activity.
• Identified new oscillatory attractor regimes, including multiple phase clusters.

Conclusions:

• Weak stimuli can induce complex transient dynamics in excitable contractile fibers.
• The after-excitation effect is a key phenomenon driving sustained activity and novel oscillatory patterns.
• Model provides a framework for understanding excitation spreading under varying conditions.