Virtual Physiology: SimNerv

SimNerv offers a fully equipped, realistically appearing laboratory on the computer screen to perform classical experiments of compound action potential recordings from isolated preparations of the frog’s sciatic nerve. All stimulation and recording parameters of the virtual devices are freely adjustable. Mathematical algorithms guarantee for the appropriated reactions of the virtual nerve, also considering the biological diversity of the preparations. The stimulator delivers voltage pulses to the stimulation electrodes. The stimulus is simultaneously displayed at channel 1 of the oscilloscope via a separate cable..AMPLITUDE and DURATION of the stimulus pulses can be adjusted as well as the DELAY between the onsets of two successive stimuli when TWIN pulses shall be applied (MODE). The POLARITY switch allows to invert the direction of the current flow, INVERT corresponds to an exchange of the stimulus electrode positions.

The simple double-beam storage oscilloscope displays the stimulus pulse (channel 1), simultaneously with the compound action potential (CAP, channel 2) measured as the potential difference between the two recording electrodes by means of a differential amplifier. The sensitivity of both oscilloscope channels (mV/DIV) as well as their common time-base (ms/DIV) can be adjusted via the rotary switches.

For your measurements take one of the nerves by mouse click out of the Petri-dish and place it on the electrodes in the recording chamber. The position of the electrodes can be changed and the temperature of the recording chamber can be adjusted. You can set a nerve ligature (fully reversible) using the thread.

Includes: a stimulator, an oscilloscope, a recording chamber and a Petri dish with two already prepared nerves.

• First version published June 06, 2013. Last update October 08, 2017. 
• Download a fully functioning DEMO Version. 

Featured experiments:

• Stimulus-response curve: recruitment of nerve fibres on increasing stimulus amplitudes
• Strength-duration curve, rheobase, chronaxy: the impact of stimulus duration
• Refractory period and anode break potentials: physiological and clinical relevance of Na+-channel inactivation: Conduction velocity and the effect of temperature changes
• Recordings of bi- and mono-phasic action potentials using reversible nerve ligatures,
• Demonstrating the clinically most relevant impact of appropriate electrode positions,
• Understanding the difference between intra- and extracellular recordings.      

SimNerv is a part of Virtual Physiology Series that consists of 5 interactive simulation CD-ROMS:

• SimMuscle 
• SimVessel 
• SimHeart 
• SimNeuron 
• SimNerv 

The series covers the entire field of nerve-muscle physiology and simulates all of the classic experiments conducted by medical, dental, veterinary, biology and chemistry students. All stimulation and recording devices are freely adjustable. Mathematical algorithms guarantee for the appropriate reactions of the preparations in all situations, also considering their physiological diversity.

Programs running on all Windows platforms, from Win XP to Win 10, 32 bit as well as 64 bit
versions. SimHeart and SimVessel also include .swf files to run on MacOS.

It is part of the cLABs set produced by Professor Hans Braun (see also record numbers 5406 and 5407). 

Price: Please see Virtual-Physiology.