THE NEURON SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT

The moment-to-moment processing of information by the nervous system i nvolves the propagation and interaction of electrical and chemical sig nals that are distributed in space and time. Biologically realistic mo deling is needed to test hypotheses about the mechanisms that govern t hese signals and how nervous system function emerges from the operatio n of these mechanisms. The NEURON simulation program provides a powerf ul and flexible environment for implementing such models of individual neurons and small networks of neurons. It is particularly useful when membrane potential is nonuniform and membrane currents are complex. W e present the basic ideas that would help informed users make the most efficient use of NEURON.