Influence of thermoelectric coupling on pacemaker activity generated by mechano-electric feedback in a one-dimensional ring-shaped model of cardiac fiber

Recently, the influence of thermal processes on electrophysiology has clearly been underlined, using a FitzHugh–Nagumo-type (FHN-type) model. When the temperature is raised, the action potential duration (APD) has been shown to shorten, while the action potential (AP) amplitude decreases, and the conduction velocity increases. In the present study, we investigate the effects of thermoelectric coupling on mechano-electric feedback (MEF), and more specifically, on pacemaker activity generated by MEF. To investigate these effects, thermoelectric coupling is introduced in a one-dimensional ring-shaped electromechanical model of cardiac fiber, which takes into account excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), as well as MEF.