Fatoyinbo HOBrown RGSimpson DJWvan Brunt B2023-01-042023-11-202022-07-082022-06-162023-01-042023-11-202022-07-08Bull Math Biol, 2022, 84 (8), pp. 86 - ?https://hdl.handle.net/10179/17936Spatiotemporal patterns are common in biological systems. For electrically coupled cells, previous studies of pattern formation have mainly used applied current as the primary bifurcation parameter. The purpose of this paper is to show that applied current is not needed to generate spatiotemporal patterns for smooth muscle cells. The patterns can be generated solely by external mechanical stimulation (transmural pressure). To do this we study a reaction-diffusion system involving the Morris-Lecar equations and observe a wide range of spatiotemporal patterns for different values of the model parameters. Some aspects of these patterns are explained via a bifurcation analysis of the system without coupling - in particular Type I and Type II excitability both occur. We show the patterns are not due to a Turing instability and that the spatially extended model exhibits spatiotemporal chaos. We also use travelling wave coordinates to analyse travelling waves.86 - ?(c) The Author/sBifurcation analysisMorris–LecarNon-Turing patternsPacemaker dynamicsPattern formationSmooth muscle cellsSpatiotemporal chaosTravelling wavesDiffusionMathematical ConceptsModels, BiologicalMyocytes, Smooth MusclePacemaker, ArtificialJournal article10.1007/s11538-022-01043-14545881522-9602Massey_Dark01 Mathematical Sciences06 Biological Sciences