Newman Mark H, Newman Eric A
Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
J Undergrad Neurosci Educ. 2013 Oct 15;12(1):A11-7. eCollection 2013.
MetaNeuron, a neuron simulation program, is an effective interactive tool for teaching cellular neurophysiology. The computer program simulates a wide range of neuronal behavior in its six lessons: i) Resting Membrane Potential, ii) Membrane Time Constant, iii) Membrane Length Constant, iv) Axon Action Potential, v) Axon Voltage Clamp, and vi) Synaptic Potential. The program is designed foremost as a platform for conducting neurophysiology experiments in silico. Neuronal parameters are easily modified and a virtual stimulator injects single or double current pulses into the neuron. Phenomena such as temporal summation of synaptic potentials, passive spread of a synaptic potential from the dendrite to the soma, the refractory period, families of voltage-clamp traces, and the reversal potential of synaptic responses, are easily illustrated in MetaNeuron. Responses are displayed graphically and can be measured with a cursor. Families of traces can be generated and viewed in rotatable 3D plots. Mac and Windows versions of the program can be downloaded, free of charge, onto individual student computers from the website www.MetaNeuron.org. A manual containing operating instructions, a description of the lessons, and exercises conducted on MetaNeuron, can also be downloaded for free.
MetaNeuron是一款神经元模拟程序，是用于教授细胞神经生理学的有效交互式工具。该计算机程序在其六节课中模拟了广泛的神经元行为：i）静息膜电位，ii）膜时间常数，iii）膜长度常数，iv）轴突动作电位，v）轴突电压钳，以及vi）突触电位。该程序主要设计为一个在计算机上进行神经生理学实验的平台。神经元参数易于修改，并且虚拟刺激器可向神经元注入单电流脉冲或双电流脉冲。诸如突触电位的时间总和、突触电位从树突到胞体的被动传播、不应期、电压钳迹线族以及突触反应的反转电位等现象，在MetaNeuron中都很容易展示。反应以图形方式显示，并且可以用光标进行测量。迹线族可以生成并在可旋转的三维图中查看。该程序的Mac和Windows版本可从网站www.MetaNeuron.org免费下载到学生个人电脑上。还可以免费下载一本手册，其中包含操作说明、课程描述以及在MetaNeuron上进行的练习。
