Electric Field-induced dynamical evolution of spiral wave in the regular networks of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons

An additional gradient force is often used to simulate the polarization effect induced by the external field in the reaction-diffusion systems. The polarization effect of weak electric field on the regular networks of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons is measured by imposing an additive term VE on physiological membrane potential at the cellular level, and the dynamical evolution of spiral wave subjected to the external electric field is investigated. A statistical variable is defined to study the dynamical evolution of spiral wave due to polarization effect. In the numerical simulation, 40000 neurons placed in the 200 × 200 square array with nearest neighbor connection type. It is found that spiral wave encounters death and the networks become homogeneous when the intensity of electric field exceeds the critical value, otherwise, spiral wave keeps alive completely. On the other hand, breakup of spiral wave occurs as the intensity of electric field exceeds the critical value in the presence of weak channel noise, otherwise, spiral wave keeps robustness to the external field completely. The critical value can be detected from the abrupt changes in the curve for factors of synchronization vs. control parameter, a smaller factor of synchronization is detected when the spiral wave keeps alive.