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Cardiac Action Potential

Cardiac Action Potential

Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Electromechanical Assessment of Optogenetically Modulated Cardiomyocyte Activity

Electromechanical Assessment of Optogenetically Modulated Cardiomyocyte Activity

Published on: March 5, 2020

Dissolution of spiral wave's core using cardiac optogenetics.

Sayedeh Hussaini^1,2,3, Sarah L Lädke¹, Johannes Schröder-Schetelig^1,2,3

¹Research Group Biomedical Physics, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany.

Plos Computational Biology

|December 7, 2023

Summary

This study reveals how low-intensity light can slowly terminate cardiac arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia. Understanding these dynamics aids in developing improved defibrillation techniques for heart rhythm disorders.

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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Electromechanical Assessment of Optogenetically Modulated Cardiomyocyte Activity

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Advanced Cardiac Rhythm Management by Applying Optogenetic Multi-Site Photostimulation in Murine Hearts

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Developing Drosophila melanogaster Models for Imaging and Optogenetic Control of Cardiac Function

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Published on: August 25, 2022

Area of Science:

Cardiology
Biophysics
Computational Biology

Background:

Rotating spiral waves cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation.
Current defibrillation uses high-voltage shocks for immediate termination, but slow termination mechanisms are also observed.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the dynamics of slow arrhythmia termination using optogenetically modified cardiac tissue.
To explore the effects of low-intensity light on spiral wave behavior in cardiac tissue.

Main Methods:

In silico numerical simulations of cardiac tissue.
Ex vivo experiments on intact mouse hearts with optogenetic modification.
Optical imaging during ventricular arrhythmia under global illumination.

Main Results:

Observed slow termination of ventricular arrhythmia in mouse hearts.
Identified action potential prolongation during the final wave rotation.
Numerical models showed spiral core expansion and termination upon illumination.

Conclusions:

Low-intensity light can induce slow termination of cardiac arrhythmias.
Action potential prolongation is key to slow termination dynamics.
Findings inform the development of novel defibrillation strategies.