Models of unidirectional propagation in heterogeneous excitable media

Two differential equation models of excitable media (threshold and recovery kinetics) with solutions that exhibit unidirectional propagation are presented. It is shown that unidirectional propagation in heterogeneous excitable media with non-oscillatory kinetics can be initiated from homogeneous initial data. Simulations on a reaction-diffusion model with FitzHugh-Nagumo kinetics and spatially heterogeneous parameters yields a rotating wave on a one-dimensional circular spatial domain. An ordinary differential equation model with four semi-coupled excitable cells and heterogeneous parameters is analyzed to determine a critical parameter region over which unidirectional propagation may occur.