3D visualization of scroll waves — spiral waves extended into the third dimension, rotating around a filament
A scroll wave is a 3D spiral wave. The organizing center is a 1D filament (curve in space) around which activation rotates.
• In 2D: spiral wave with point singularity (tip)
• In 3D: scroll wave with line singularity (filament)
• Twisted scroll waves have helical filaments
Critical in cardiac electrophysiology: scroll waves underlie ventricular fibrillation. Defibrillation works by destroying the filament organization.