Driven oscillators in modelling of heart dynamics

Abstract

In a structural sense, the heart is composed by pacemakers (SA and AV nodes) and by nerve fibers (His bundle and Purkinje fibers) that conduct the signal to myocardium.Mathematically these elements can be modelled by Liknard type equations. The oscillating elements are then modelled by highly asymmetric van der Pol equations and the signal carriers - by the nerve pulse equations. This study focuses on the dynamics of basic uncoupled elements as the driven equations. The full bifurcation diagram for a driven highly asymmetric van der Pol equation is presented and a specific blocking effect described for the driven nerve pulse equation.

Keywords:

• bifurcation
• chaos
• blocking

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jüri Engelbrecht