ABSTRACT
In this book we have so far looked at the intrinsic dynamics of excitable media, both homogeneous as well as in the presence of different types of heterogeneities. However, given the important functional role played by the patterns seen in such media (e.g., the connection between spiral waves and cardiac arrhythmias), it is important to ask whether the insights provided by the above studies can be used to devise methods to control these patterns. In the field of cardiac arrhythmia, empirical studies of how externally imposed electrical stimulation (such as in pacing or defibrillation discussed later) can be used to alter or suppress patterns such as pinned rotating waves or how spatio-temporal chaos has been used to establish heuristic principles. However, a deeper understanding of the nonlinear dynamics of the interaction between the dynamics patterns and external stimulation, may help in developing more efficient and safer techniques for clinical applications. In this and subsequent chapters, we focus on using insights from dynamical systems theory to come up with novel techniques of controlling the spatiotemporal patterns in excitable media using low-amplitude signals.
