NerveWorks is a software package that simulates current- and voltage-clamp experiments on neurons.  The software is designed to teach advanced undergraduates and graduate students the principles of cellular neurophysiology.
   The user interface contains a set of equipment (oscilloscope, amplifiers, stimulators, drug spritzers) which are placed in an equipment rack and wired together by the user.  On another part of the screen is an experimental chamber with the preparation, microelectrodes, and micromanipulators.  Double-clicking on the preparation brings up an editor which allows to user to insert any voltage- or ligand-gated ion channel into the membrane, and modify any of its properties at will.  A solution shelf near the preparation allows the user to apply any extracellular (or intracellular) solution to the cell.
    With electrodes in the cell, the model engine runs the equations calculating current flow through all channels and displays the behavior of the membrane potential as a function of time on the oscilloscope screen.  The model updates as ion channel parameters are changed, even while a recording is in progress.
     The package contains a set of tutorials designed to lead the user through experiments that illustrate the major concepts of resting potential, action potential, voltage- and ligand-gated channel behavior, and ion channel modulation.  In these tutorials, the equipment is either prewired, or a set of instructions shows the user how to set it up.  In addition, users can easily build their own exercises by constructing cells with any properties desired, saving those preparations, and entering instruction sets using a simple html editor.
     This package has undergone extensive testing with our undergraduate neurobiology students, and is now commercially available.
   Use the contact link below for more information.