The importance of anisotropy in potential gradient calculations

The effects of anisotropy on potential gradient calculations in muscle tissue are investigated in an idealized two dimensional geometry. The percent of area above a gradient threshold (PAAT) is calculated in an uniform applied field and in a non-uniform field created by two point sources near the tissue. The percent RMS difference in PAAT between nominal anisotropic and isotropic conductivities in the uniform field is 37.6% compared to 3.3% in the non-uniform field. For the problem considered, an accurate anisotropy specification is required in uniform fields while an isotropic representation may be used in non-uniform fields