Virtual Physiology: SimNeuron

SimNeuron offers virtual laboratories for voltage- and current-clamp experiments in an easy to overlook lab design that will provide a better understanding of the relations between ion currents and action potential generation. Includes a neuron editor showing the full set of the neuron parameters.

Featured experiments:

Determine the threshold of action potential generation in the current-clamp lab.
Examine the effects of amplitude and duration of the current stimulus. Induction of a series of action potentials of different frequencies. Comparison of action potentials with local potentials and purely passive potential changes. Understanding the effects of the Na-channel blocker TTX and K+-channel blocker TEA. Display and explain the alterations of ionic conductances and currents during an action potential.

Recordings of ion currents in the voltage-clamp lab with and without RC compensation.
Application of the Na+-channel blocker TTX and K+-channel blocker TEA. Estimation of the activation (and inactivation) time constants. Determining the reversal potentials of Na+- and K+-currents. (tail currents). Constructing current-voltage (I-V) curves and calculation of the voltage dependencies of ion channel activation.

For the experts:

Use the Neuron Editor to examine the effects of different membrane parameters on the neuron’s sensitivity, e.g. with alterations of voltage- and time-dependencies of ion current activation and inactivation, leak conductances, ion concentrations, etc.

Examine how a neuron at constant resting potential can be transferred into a pacemaker neuron.

Pre-Settings:

In fully licensed versions there is the possibility to select to which specific features of the program the students shall have access. This can be done in so-called pre-settings window which you can open from the labs via the SETTINGS button in the switch bank. In demo versions the pre-settings are fixed with most functions enabled.

• First version published June 06, 2013. Last update October 08, 2017. 
• Download a fully functioning DEMO Version.     
• Please also check the PDF file for SimNeuron 2.2  

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

• SimNerv 
• SimMuscle 
• SimVessel 
• SimHeart 
• SimNeuron

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.