NeuroML for plug and play neuronal modeling

Modern software systems for simulation, database access, visualisation and data analysis, supporting distributed, extensible, evolutionary development, are designed around a small core that loads plug-in components. We have designed such a system for the neurosciences using an XML-based protocol, NeuroML, to exchange information between components. NeuroML supports high-level descriptions of data, models, references, and other types of information. We have built simulation kernel plug-ins, visualisation plug-ins, and model-description GUI plug-ins which interoperate in this framework. We describe the current status of these plug-ins and our future plans for further plug-in components. c © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.