A Java Interactive Pedagogical Tool for Experimenting with Neural Circuits

6 This project aims to develop an online user interface to 7 implement simple user designed neural circuits to serve as 8 demonstration and education material for high school and 9 college level students and educators. The user interacts with a 10 graphical user interface (GUI) which on the front end allows 11 the user to assemble, probe, and alter simple neural circuits; 12 while on the back end the GUI implements the FitzHugh13 Nagumo neuron model in Java as a system of alterable point 14 neurons with adjustable connection matrices and a low-order 15 differential equation solver to allow for real-time computation 16 and visualization of action potential generation and 17 propagation. This interface can serve as a demonstration of the 18 complex nonlinear interactions that drive neurons, while 19 increasing understanding of how the brain works on a cellular 20 and computational level in a way accessible to the general 21 public. The final aim is the publication of the GUI online, 22 where users can interact with it, and increasing the complexity 23 of the model and interface to demonstrate more complex 24 behaviors and greater user definability. 25