Simulating Hodgkin-Huxley-like Excitation using Comsol Multiphysics

J. Martinek[1,2], Stickler[2] , Reichel[1], and Rattay[2]
[1]Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Management, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria
[2]Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
Published in 2008

Most simulations concerning electrical activation of human muscles are based on the modeling approach of Hodgkin and Huxley. Calculating the response of a muscle or nerve fiber membrane to an applied electrical field, needs to consider the “macroscopic”, extracellular potential distribution in the tissue surrounding the fiber, and the “microscopic”, intracellular potential distribution inside the fiber.

With Comsol Multiphysics it is possible to evaluate Hodgkin-Huxley like excitation processes in conducting 2D media. Once the model is implemented into the software it can be easily adapted to different geometries and parameters of fibers as well as those of the extracellular regions.