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SNNAP: A GENERAL PURPOSE SIMULATOR FOR NEURAL NETWORKS AND ACTION POTENTIALS
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D.A. Baxter1*; H. Chen1; Y. Cai1; A. Malik2; A.J. Susswein2; J.H. Byrne1
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| 1. Neurobiol. & Anatomy, Univ. Texas-Houston Med. Sch., Houston, TX, USA | | 2. Life Sci., Bar-Ilan Univ., Ramat-Gan, Israel |
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Computer simulations enable researchers and students to explore processes that underlie neural function. To simplify and expand access to neural simulation software, we developed SNNAP, which is versatile, user friendly and powerful. In SNNAP, neurons can be modeled with Hodgkin-Huxley-type conductances. Both electrical and chemical synapses can be simulated as well as second messengers, modulation and synaptic plasticity. SNNAP was introduced in 1994 (Ziv et al. 1994), and each year, improvements have been added. Some of the pervious improvements included porting SNNAP (Ver. 5) to the JAVA programming language, which allows SNNAP to run on virtually any computer, and incorporating tools that allow users to develop models based on the morphology of neurons (Ver. 6). During the past year, Ver. 7 was developed and is now available.
The enhancements in Ver. 7 include: 1) generating publication-quality figures by sending the results of a simulation to a postscript file; 2) using JAVA Swing technology to improve the graphical user interface (GUI); 3) an option to include stochastic variations in parameters for membrane and synaptic conductances; 4) an option to simulate integrate-and-fire neurons and synaptic connections that can be modified by Hebbian or anti-Hebbian learning rules; and 5) incorporating a new element to the GUI that allows users to run multiple simulations while automatically varying selected parameters.
SNNAP is available free of charge @ snnap.uth.tmc.edu
Supported by: NIH grants R01RR11626 & P01NS38310
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Citation for this abstract:
Baxter, D.A., H. Chen, Y. Cai, A. Malik, A.J. Susswein, and J.H. Byrne (2001). SNNAP: a general purpose simulator for neural networks and action potentials. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 27, 46.
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