Computer simulation of the effects of myocardial electrotonic interaction on the sequence of excitation and repolarisation

A three-dimensional computer model of myocardial tissue was utilized which permitted different combinations of the intrinsic refractoriness and electronic interaction to be examined. The goal was to demonstrate their mutual influence and to show their combined effect on excitation and repolarization sequences. The results of the study suggested that electronic interactions between excited cells can cause non-uniform speed of propagation which, by means of the phase shifts of action potentials, contributes to the inversion of the repolarization sequence. Experiments with this model did not support the hypothesis that simple electronic smoothing of the differences in repolarization phases due to the excitation phase shift of action potentials reverses the repolarization sequence and explains T wave polarity