Scimex: Scientists have developed a new way of measuring how information is
communicated as electric signals between cells in the heart, because
conventional electrocardiographs are not able to accurately detect all
the signals in irregularly beating hearts. They say that the success of
the new system suggests that it can be used to "guide development of
clinically useful diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for complex
heart rhythm disorder".
f the brain is a communication system, why not the HEART? The heart
is indeed a communication system where information is shared by
traveling electrical waves between cells.
We developed a framework
to measure cardiac electrical communication in normal and abnormal
heart rhythms using a mathematical theory of communication known as
information theory.
Our results suggest that an information theory
approach can guide development of clinically useful diagnostic and
therapeutic interventions for complex heart rhythm disorder.
Our
findings provide proof-of-concept of this new paradigm, which joins the
two separate disciplines of cardiac electrophysiology and information
theory.