Beeler Reuter Model
for one ventricular cell
This applet is used to simulate the activation of ventricular cells
using the Beeler-Reuter model. It is particularly designed to illustrate
the concept of all-or-none repolarization.
To use the applet, click the Start button to initiate
the simulation and the Reset button to return
the parameters to their initial values. Check the box for each
variable to plot it in the window. The action potential durations and
diastolic intervals of the last two action potentials are computed
automatically.
Things to try:
Change the timing of the last stimulus to occur during repolarization
and observe the result.
Adjust the timing of the three stimuli to determine how early
a stimulus can be applied and still generate a full action potential.
Investigate the effects of "memory" of previous activations
by measuring the last APD produced over a range of S3 timings
for fixed values of S1 and S2 (this forms a restitution curve), and
then repeating with a different fixed value of S2.
Analyze the effects of stimulus current magnitude and stimulus duration.
Note that the longer the stimulus is applied, the lower the
magnitude required to produce an action potential, and vice versa.
Beeler GW, Reuter H. (1977) J Physiol 268, 177-210.