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Artificial Life Approach for Controlling Fibrillation in Self-Oscillating Gels
Shun Oi1, Ryuhei Sato1, Ryo Yoshida1
1Department of Materials Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
ACS Omega
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Artificial Life (ALife) models reveal how mechanical forces control self-oscillating gels. Applying specific compressions can suppress fibrillation and restore coordinated oscillations, offering insights into biological rhythm disorders.
Area of Science:
- Complex Systems
- Biophysics
- Artificial Life
Background:
- Biological rhythms are essential but challenging to study in vivo.
- Rhythm disorders necessitate understanding control mechanisms.
- Artificial Life (ALife) offers controlled environments for studying rhythmic phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically investigate self-oscillating gels' response to mechanical forces.
- To explore fibrillation control and resonance phenomena.
- To apply ALife approaches to biological rhythm disorder mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- A coupled model of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction and gel volume changes was used.
- Numerical simulations examined gel oscillations under external mechanical compression.
- Fibrillation induction and suppression via controlled compression intervals were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Inclined compression during swelling induced gel fibrillation (stable spiral waves).
- Periodic compressions synchronized with the gel's intrinsic period suppressed fibrillation.
- Resonance and period synchronization were observed with external forces.
Conclusions:
- ALife models can elucidate biological rhythm disorder mechanisms.
- Controlled mechanical stimulation can restore coordinated oscillations in gels.
- Findings suggest strategies for addressing rhythm disorders, akin to cardiac resuscitation.
