Neuron Group
A neuron group is a group consisting of a neuron(s) in which is represented by an enclosure of the neuron(s). The label at the top of the enclosure is the group's name (defaulted to the type of neuron group). There are various types of neuron group (listed to the right) in Simbrain, each of which has numerous parameters that can be set. This page covers properties common to all of the different neuron group types. Details of each type can be found on their respective page.
Creation/Edit Dialog
Group ID: Labelling that identifies the group.
Label: Name of group.
Population: Number of neurons in the group.
Excitatory Type: The type of neuronal excitation for the group. Can be changed in "Update Rule." See neuron types for a listing of the various types.
Inhibitory Type: The type of neuronal inhibition for the group. See neuron types for a listing of the various types.
Parent: Denotes the the parent group, if any.
Incoming:
Outgoing:
Neurons
Activation: The current level of activity of this neuron. How this should be interpreted is dependent on the neuron type and application (e.g. firing rate, voltage potential, etc.). This is represented by the neuron's color, and can be seen exactly by lingering over the neuron or observing the value in the neuron's properties.
Label: This field labels ALL of the neurons (within the group) with the same name.
Clamped: Clamping the neurons fix the activation value to the current value.
Clipping: If a neuron uses clipping, then if its activation exceeds its upper or lower bound, the activation is set to the upper or lower bound that it exceeds. Similarly with weights and their strength.
Upper Bound: This field plays different roles depending on the type of the neuron (documented accordingly) but in general it determines the maximum level of activity of a node. It also determines the range of colors which a neuron can take on. The upper and lower bound determine the bounds of randomization.
Lower Bound: This field plays different roles depending on the type of the neuron but in general it determines the minimum level of activity of a node. It also determines the range of colors which a neuron can take on.
Increment: This field sets the amount that a neuron is incremented when it is manually adjusted. For example, if increment is set to .1, then each time the up arrow is pressed the neuron will increase its activation by .1. This feature does not affect the neuron while the network is being iterated.
Priority: This field lets user give priority to neurons. The lower the value, the higher the priority.
Input Type: This field sets the input as weighted or synaptic.
Update Rule: This field lets user change the neuron type.
Layout
Grid: Neurons are laid out in a grid, beginning at an initial position and moving downward.
Horizontal Spacing: Distance between the neurons from left to right.
Vertical Spacing: Distance between the neurons up and down.
Manual Columns: If checked, the default behavior is overrideen and you can choose how many columns the grid has, using the number of columns field. Default behavior is a square grid.
Number of Columns: How many columns there will be in the grid (if manully set number of columns is selected).
Hex Grid: Neurons are laid out in a hexagonal pattern.
Horizontal Spacing: Distance between the neurons from left to right.
Vertical Spacing: Distance between the neurons up and down.
Manual Columns: If checked, the default behavior is overrideen and you can choose how many columns the grid has, using the number of columns field. Default behavior is a square grid.
Number of Columns: How many columns there will be in the grid (if manully set number of columns is selected).
Line: Neurons are laid out in a line, beginning at an initial position.
Layout Style: Whether the neurons are laid out horizontally or vertically.
Spacing: Distance between the neurons.
Input Data
Input data for neurons. User can upload .csv data files.
Right Click Menu
Edit: Edit group properties.
Rename Group: Input another name for the group.
Remove Group: Delete the group.
Select Neurons: Select all neurons in the group.
Select Incoming Synapses: -
Select Outgoing Synapses: -
Clamp Neurons: Clamp all neurons in the group. See Clamping.
Unclamp Neurons: Unclamp all the neurons in the group
Set Group as Source: Set the group as source group.
Clear Source Neuron Groups: Deselect the group as source neuron group.
Connect Neuron Group with Synapse Group: Connect source and target neuron groups with a synapse group.