Evaluation and sensitivity analysis of the FitzHugh–Nagumo model parameters for studying electrical signals generated by different biological tissues

Abstract

Accurate modeling of cardiac electrical activity is essential for developing diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. This study presents a parameter evaluation of a modified FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) model to reproduce the specific waveforms generated by different cardiac tissues, such as the sinoatrial node, atria, atrioventricular node, Purkinje fibers, and ventricles. Through a systematic sensitivity analysis, the influence of key parameters on waveform features such as amplitude, duration, and frequency is identified, allowing precise calibration for each tissue type. These parameter sets were then integrated into a multi-compartment model and implemented in a two-dimensional (2D) spatial domain using COMSOL Multiphysics, following the framework of Sovilj et al. The simulations successfully replicated electrocardiographic components—including the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave—by combining spatially distributed signals with physiologically representative dynamics. Rather than proposing a new model, this work validates a methodology for tuning and applying simplified excitable models to simulate realistic cardiac behavior efficiently. The approach offers potential applications in the design of low-power wearable devices and supports the development of personalized monitoring systems. Future work will extend this methodology to other excitable tissues and explore its use in modeling pathological conditions or structural constraints, providing a flexible platform for evaluating requirements in next-generation bioelectronic devices.