Modeling cardiac mechano-electrical feedback using reaction-diffusion-mechanics systems

In many practically important cases, wave propagation described by the reaction-diffusion equation initiates deformation of the medium. Mathematically, such processes are described by coupled reaction-diffusion-mechanics (RDM) systems. RDM systems were recently used to study the effects of deformation on wave propagation in cardiac tissue, so called mechano-electrical feedback (MEF). In this article, we review the results of some of these studies, in particular those relating to the effects of deformation on pacemaker activity and spiral wave dynamics in the heart. We also provide brief descriptions of the numerical methods used, and the underlying cardiac physiology.