Why the study?
Three-dimensional scroll waves induce chaos in the brain and heart, requiring approaches for termination.
A novel low-energy electric field approach can terminate three-dimensional scroll waves, offering potential for future low-energy defibrillation strategies in the heart.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Animal data support low-energy scroll-wave termination; leaves open clinical translation to defibrillation.
Three-dimensional scroll waves direct cell movement and gene expression, and induce chaos in the brain and heart. We found an approach to terminate multiple three-dimensional scrolls. A pulse of a properly configured electric field detaches scroll filaments from the surface. They shrink due to filament tension and disappear. Since wave emission from small heterogeneities is not used, this approach requires a much lower electric field. It is not sensitive to the details of the excitable medium. It may affect future studies of low-energy chaos termination in the heart.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Otani et al. (2019) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: