Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex arrhythmia with multiple possible mechanisms. It requires
a trigger for initiation and a favorable substrate for maintenance. Pulmonary vein myocardial
sleeves have the potential to generate spontaneous activity, and this arrhythmogenic activity
is surfaced by modulation of intracellular calcium dynamics. Direct autonomic nerve
recordings in canine models show that simultaneous sympathovagal discharges are the
most common triggers of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia and paroxysmal AF. Autonomic …