Analysis and Modelling of the Electrical Control Activity in Human Colon

Abstract

<p>The electrical control activity in human colon was analyzed using an interactive processor, which was developed and implemented on a NOVA 830 minicomputer, for the analysis of a biological rhythm. The characteristics of the human colonic electrical control activity varied in time and space. The colonic control waves were continuously present with waxing and waning of their amplitudes and they were not continuously phase-locked in either the longitudinal or the circumferential directions. Furthermore, multiple fundamental frequencies along with harmonic frequencies were present whereby the intensity, of a harmonic frequency could be larger than that of a fundamental frequency.</p> <p>An interactive processor for modelling of a biological rhythm by a population of coupled relaxation oscillators was developed and implemented on a NOVA minicomputer, whereby each oscillator could be selectively stimulated.</p> <p>A tubular structure of bidirectionally coupled rings of bidirectionally coupled synthesized relaxation oscillators was used to model the human colonic electrical activity. The computer model qualitatively reproduced the observed characteristics of human colonic electrical control activity. A mathematical investigation of a population of coupled synthesized relaxation oscillators elucidated the nature of waxing and waning of the amplitudes of control waves. Furthermore, it provided the conditions of synchronization of the population which led to the derivation of conditions of entrainment of a synthesized relaxation oscillator by different external stimuli.</p>