Mechanisms sustaining atrial fibrillation are yet to be clarified. This article focuses on milestones in the theory of atrial fibrillation and addresses the different leading hypotheses concerning atrial fibrillation mechanisms. We start off with electric potential originating from the pulmonary vein, which triggers atrial fibrillation, discuss classic activation mapping and phase mapping as well as computer models, which have contributed to the our understanding of atrial fibrillation, and end with new mapping methods and studies highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of current mechanistic hypotheses. The technical evolution of mapping atrial fibrillation has led to new insights into the potential mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation. A comparison between methods is essential for understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each method when mapping atrial fibrillation. Ultimately, the combination of several methods might shed light on the underlying mechanisms of atrial fibrillation and lead to a better understanding of atrial fibrillation and subsequently improve treatment of this condition.

维持房颤的机制尚待阐明。本文重点介绍心房颤动理论中的里程碑，并阐述有关心房颤动机制的不同主要假设。我们从触发心房颤动的肺静脉电位开始，讨论经典的激活映射和相位映射以及计算机模型，它们有助于我们理解心房颤动，并以新的映射方法和研究结束当前机制假设的优缺点。映射心房颤动的技术发展使人们对心房颤动的潜在机制有了新的认识。在绘制心房颤动图时，方法之间的比较对于了解每种方法的优缺点至关重要。最终，几种方法的结合可能会阐明心房颤动的潜在机制，并导致更好地了解心房颤动并随后改进这种情况的治疗。