The Modeler's Workspace: Making model-based studies of the nervous system more accessible

Abstract

Realistic neuronal models can serve as devices to collect, evaluate and distribute information concerning the functional organization of nervous systems. The central motivation for our Modeler's Workspace project is to provide the general neuroscience community with more ready access to the information contained in realistic neuronal models. The Modeler's Workspace is a collection of software tools that enable users to interact with databases of models and data. It provides facilities for searching multiple remote databases for model components based on various criteria, visualizing the characteristics of the components retrieved (as well as creating new model components), combining components into new models, and interacting with simulation packages such as GENESIS to simulate the new constructs. This user-friendly tool has the potential to provide a much broader group of neuroscientists with access to neurobiological information in the form of neuronal models.