nengo

Nengo is a software package that makes it easy to develop sophisticated models of neuronal circuits. It is intended for modelling large networks of neurons (typically hundreds or thousands), using spiking point-neuron models.

To get a quick sense of how to use Nengo, watch this user-interface fly-through.

Nengo is designed around the neural engineering framework (NEF). This is a mathematical framework that describes how neurons interact to represent information, perform computations, and behave dynamically. This framework has been used to develop sophisticated models of spatial working memory, probabilistic sound localization, and lamprey locomotion, among others.

Nengo makes it easy for beginners to develop models using the NEF. If you accept defaults for spiking models, tuning curves, firing rates, etc. then you can have a rough approximation of a complex system assembled and running in minutes.

Nengo also makes it easy for experts to do advanced work with the NEF. The design carefully encapsulates separable aspects of model behaviour, so that it is highly customizable and easy to extend.