Spatial Symmetry Breaking Determines Spiral Wave Chirality

Thomas Quail, Alvin Shrier, and Leon Glass
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 158101 – Published 7 October 2014
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Abstract

Chirality represents a fundamental property of spiral waves. Introducing obstacles into cardiac monolayers leads to the initiation of clockwise-rotating, counterclockwise-rotating, and pairs of spiral waves. Simulations show that the precise location of the obstacle and the pacing frequency determine spiral wave chirality. Instabilities predicted by curves relating the action potential duration and the pacing frequency at different spatial locations predict sites of wave break initiation and, hence, spiral wave chirality.

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  • Received 10 June 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.158101

© 2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Thomas Quail, Alvin Shrier, and Leon Glass*

  • Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3G 1Y6

  • *glass@cnd.mcgill.ca

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Issue

Vol. 113, Iss. 15 — 10 October 2014

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