Neurons in Action: Computer Simulations With Neurolab

"Neurons in Action" tutorials are CD-ROM-based learning tools that combine text with computer simulations of laboratory experiments in neurophysiology. Using the professional research simulator NEURON, developed at Duke and Yale Universities, students discover how changing parameters such as neuronal geometry, ion concentrations, and ion conductances affect the generation of potentials, synaptic potentials, and the spread of propagation of voltages within a neuron. With its novel use of interactive movies, the CD allows the student to visualize changing voltage patterns not only in time, but in space, providing insight into nerve function that is simply not possible with conventional text and figure presentations. Because "Neurons in Action" documents are written in HTML format and displayed by an Internet browser, the student can make extensive use of hyperlinks to answer questions raised by the tutorials and to extend the information supporting the experiments.