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Python may now be used as an alternative interpreter for NEURON, either alone or in combination with hoc. This opens up to NEURON users the large and rapidly growing body of scientific software written in Python, and "catalyzes NEURON software development by offering users a modern programming tool that is recognized for its flexibility and power to create and maintain complex programs." And it does so without breaking anything, since all existing models written in hoc continue to work without alteration, and are also available from Python.
NEURON and Python
| Title | NEURON and Python |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2009 |
| Authors | Hines, M. L., Davison Andrew P., and Muller Eilif |
| Journal | Frontiers in neuroinformatics |
| Volume | 3 |
| Keywords | computational neuroscience, Python, simulation environment |
| Abstract | The NEURON simulation program now allows Python to be used, alone or in combination with NEURON's traditional Hoc interpreter. Adding Python to NEURON has the immediate benefit of making available a very extensive suite of analysis tools written for engineering and science. It also catalyzes NEURON software development by offering users a modern programming tool that is recognized for its flexibility and power to create and maintain complex programs. At the same time, nothing is lost because all existing models written in Hoc, including graphical user interface tools, continue to work without change and are also available within the Python context. An example of the benefits of Python availability is the use of the xml module in implementing NEURON's Import3D and CellBuild tools to read MorphML and NeuroML model specifications. |
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