www.neuron.yale.edu

Can you make your own classes to be used in template and/or hoc files similiar to how you can make your own classes in C++ ?

To define a new class, you write a "template." See chapter 13 Object-oriented programming
in The NEURON Book. Also read the following items in the Programmer's Reference:
ObjectOrientedProgramming
http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/stati ... rogramming
Object Oriented Programming in OC
http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/stati ... n/obj.html

A good way to develop definitions of cell classes suitable for use in networks is to use the
Network Builder to create a toy network, then click on its "Hoc file" button to make it write a
file that contains class definitions that are reusable in your own programs--see the Network
Builder tutorial at http://www.neuron.yale.edu/neuron/docs
and the example in chapter 11 Modeling networks of The NEURON Book.