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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
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Experimental Investigation of Secondary Flow Structures Downstream of a Model Type IV Stent Failure in a 180° Curved Artery Test Section
Published on: July 19, 2016
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Hidden structures of information transport underlying spiral wave dynamics
Hiroshi Ashikaga1, Ryan G James2
1Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600N Wolfe Street, Carnegie 568, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)
|February 3, 2017
Summary
Quantifying spiral wave dynamics in excitable media is challenging. A new hybrid approach reveals hidden structures by analyzing information flow, aiding understanding of brain seizures and heart arrhythmia.
Area of Science:
- Complex Systems
- Nonlinear Dynamics
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Spiral waves are crucial in excitable media like the heart and brain.
- Their complex dynamics make precise quantification difficult.
- Understanding spiral waves is key for treating conditions like cardiac arrhythmia and seizures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for quantifying spiral wave dynamics.
- To analyze information transport within excitable media.
- To identify hidden coherent structures related to spiral wave behavior.
Main Methods:
- A hybrid geometric and information-theoretic approach was developed.
- Applied to numerical simulations of 2D excitable media with varying spiral wave patterns.
- Focused on defining and analyzing information flow.
Main Results:
- Hidden coherent structures emerged, quantifying information transport.
- These structures effectively characterized spiral wave dynamics.
- Longer observation periods enhanced the clarity of some structures.
Conclusions:
- The hybrid approach provides a computationally efficient way to quantify spiral wave dynamics.
- Applicable across diverse physical, chemical, and biological systems.
- Potential to inform therapies for seizures and cardiac arrhythmia by targeting identified structures.
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