Neurons in Action 2: Tutorials and Simulations using NEURON

Moore, John W.; Stuart, Ann E.

ISBN 10: 1605353914 ISBN 13: 9781605353913

Publisher: Sinauer Associates is an imprint of Oxford University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Neurons in Action 2 is the second version of a unique software learning tool that combines hyperlinked text with NEURON simulations of laboratory experiments in neurophysiology. Version 2 features nine new tutorials introducing new channel types, single-channel simulations, and a redesigned interface. Neurons in Action's moving graphs provide insight into nerve function that is simply not possible with conventional, static text and figure presentations. Students discover how changing parameters such as neuronal geometry, ion concentrations, ion channel densities, and degree of myelination affect the generation of action potentials, synaptic potentials, and the spread or propagation of voltages within a neuron. For instructors, minimovies of NEURON simulations are provided for use in lectures.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Windows

Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 8
Current version of Firefox

Mac

Mac OS X 10.6-10.11

About this title

About the Author:

John W. Moore is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center. He earned a B.S. in Physics at Davidson College, and a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Virginia. His work, spanning some four decades, has encompassed characterizing the ionic channels in squid axons under a variety of experimental conditions (e.g., treatment with ions, drugs, toxins, etc.), propagation of impulses in normal axons under a variety of experimental conditions, and synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions.

Ann E. Stuart is a Professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned a B.A. in Biology at Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in Physiology at Yale University with John G. Nicholls, and has done postdoctoral work with Zach Hall and Susumu Hagiwara. The aim of Dr. Stuart's laboratory has been to understand the first stages of processing in an invertebrate visual system.

The authors wish to acknowledge the participation in this endeavor of their son, Jonathan Stuart-Moore, who contributed his skills in computer graphics and also made it possible for Neurons in Action to run on the Macintosh platform.

Review:

In this carefully designed book, John Moore and Ann Stuart demystify the basics of nerve function through a series of logical and well-written text-based tutorials with accompanying computer simulations... The computer-based format is ideal for professors and teaching assistants to use in the classroom. The inclusion of classic experimental papers on the CD also makes the experience somewhat of a history lesson as well... The entire simulation environment is contained on the CD, can be easily installed locally on a PC or Mac, and runs quickly using Mozilla Firefox... Overall, Moore and Stuart certainly have created a highly recommendable method for learning and teaching neurophysiology. Readers can now, from the comfort of their own homes, finally vanquish those former physiology demons in a fun and interactive manner and learn a bit of history, too. --Arjun V. Masurkar, Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine

About this edition

• Publisher: Sinauer Associates is an imprint of Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1605353914
• ISBN 13: 9781605353913
• Binding: Cards
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 1