Perumal Chris Davis, Nofal Abraham, Kolber Benedict J, Miller Neilan Rachael
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX.
Spora. 2025;11(1):64-75. doi: 10.61403/2473-5493.1107. Epub 2025 Mar 27.
Agent-based models (ABMs) are computer simulation models for studying systems of autonomous agents. Modelers often use specialized software like NetLogo to develop ABMs, but this software poses barriers to researchers in other disciplines with no prior programming experience. To address this issue, we developed a web application that allows users to simulate our ABM via a web browser, eliminating the need for the user to download and use specialized software. While presented in the context of a specific ABM, our approach can be applied to other ABMs to enhance accessibility. The ABM presented here was developed in NetLogo3D. The model simulates pain-related neural activity in the central nucleus of the amygdala and generates an emergent measure of pain output. The web application enables users to modify parameters, run simulations, visualize output, and export data without interacting with the model's code or downloading software, broadening access to researchers and the public.
基于主体的模型（ABM）是用于研究自主主体系统的计算机模拟模型。建模者通常使用诸如NetLogo之类的专业软件来开发ABM，但该软件给没有编程经验的其他学科的研究人员带来了障碍。为了解决这个问题，我们开发了一个网络应用程序，允许用户通过网络浏览器模拟我们的ABM，从而无需用户下载和使用专业软件。虽然是在特定ABM的背景下提出的，但我们的方法可以应用于其他ABM以提高可及性。这里展示的ABM是在NetLogo3D中开发的。该模型模拟杏仁核中央核中与疼痛相关的神经活动，并生成疼痛输出的一种涌现度量。该网络应用程序使用户能够修改参数、运行模拟、可视化输出并导出数据，而无需与模型代码交互或下载软件，从而扩大了研究人员和公众的使用范围。
