Fig. 1

Fluorescence intensity-changes in cells over time: a Ca²⁺-induced fluorescence intensity-changes over the time course of ablation (center, grey values) in each of the analysis rings (left). The corresponding slowly-varying signal component of fluorescence intensity (right, grey values) represents the local minima value for every intensity peak in the original intensity plots, plotted against time. Ablation occurred at 0 s. The numbering of rings starts from the central ring containing the ablated cell (shown as R1, left) and then successively until the last selected ring (R6). b Ca²⁺ changes in cells in the second analysis ring (R2) from the plots illustrated above during pre-ablation, quiescent period following ablation, and post-half-recovery periods, indicated in different color coding, based on the half-recovery time is shown as an example of the algorithm described above