Figure 2.

Schematic illustrating the mechanistic hypothesis tested in this study. Sites of pre-ablation RDs for both simulations conducted under both EP_avg and EP_var conditions were established in a previous study.¹⁴ In some cases, RD sites observed under EP_var conditions were never observed in EP_avg simulations (left panel). We hypothesized that if virtual ablation was used to destroy the substrate for all EP_avg RDs, reapplying the AF induction protocol would result in initiation of emergent RDs (right panel) in locations that were previously only observed under EP_var conditions. AF, atrial fibrillation; EP_avg, average AF electrophysiology; EP_var, variable electrophysiology; RD, re-entrant driver.