Dynamical Systems Seminar: Hiroshi Ashikaga
ÌýInformation Theory of the Heart
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Date and time:Ìý
Thursday, October 16, 2014 - 2:00pm
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ECCR 257
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In this talk I will introduce a novel paradigm of the heart as a communication system consisting of a large number of cells on a regular lattice structure. In two commonly used models of cardiac action potential propagation, electrical communication processes are quantitatively assessed between cells using information theory during normal and abnormal heart rhythms. This is the first attempt to apply information theory to evaluate electrical communication within the heart. Information theory metrics are able to quantitatively differentiate complex arrhythmias, allowing us to understand the nature of different heart rhythms in a fundamental way. The results suggest that an information theory approach can guide development of clinically useful diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for complex arrhythmia. The findings provide proof-of-concept of this new paradigm, which joins the two separate disciplines of cardiac electrophysiology and information theory.