Computer Modeling of Atrial Fibrillation

The recent development of models of atrial cellular dynamics and of realistic atrial anatomic structures has enabled modeling and computer simulation to become important investigative tools in the analysis of atrial arrhythmias. The cell model includes membrane potential, transmembrane ionic currents and ion concentrations. The tissue model describes the overall geometric structure of the tissue as well as how cells are interconnected. For these studies, the mechanical properties of the heart are decoupled and only the electrical properties are considered. The most important use of computer simulation is in enabling “clean” experiments, in which exactly one parameter of interest is varied. This may be difficult or impossible to do in tissue experiments. Modeling provides other advantages when used to complement traditional experiments and clinical work. Computer simulations can guide experiments by providing hypotheses to test in vivo that have been verified already in silico. In addition, simulations can be used to investigate and to explain experimental and clinical observations. This continual feedback between simulation and experiment can reduce time and money spent on animal experiments and can generate valuable information about human arrhythmias while avoiding issues of patient safety.