Simulator for Neural Networks and Action Potentials (SNNAP)

Producer: University of Texas-Houston Medical School

SNNAP was designed as a tool for the rapid development and simulation of realistic models of single neurons and small neural networks. The electrical properties of individual neurons are described with Hodgkin-Huxley type voltage- and time-dependent ionic currents. The connections among neurons can be made by either electrical or chemical synapses. SNNAP also includes mathematical descriptions of intracellular second messengers and ions, thus being able to simulate the modulation, either enhancement or inhibition, of membrane currents and synaptic transmission, as well as the current flow in multicompartment models of neurons (by using the equations describing electrical coupling). Some of the advantages of SNNAP include: a graphical user interface; the ability to simulate common experimental manipulations (e.g. injection of external currents into multiple cells, removal of individual conductances to simulate

pharmacological agents, modulation of membrane currents via application of modulatory transmitters and voltage-clamping cells); the modular organisation of input files. There are several versions of SNNAP. The number of neurons that can be included in a network has been increased from 100 (v7) to 500 (v7a). The number of synaptic connections has been increased to 2,000 chemical synapses, 2,000 electrical synapses, and 2,000 modulatory synapses.

Details:

Medium: Downloadable from website
System requirements: Windows 95/98/NT/2000, Macintosh, Linux/UNIX
Price: Freeware