Simulating in vivo-like Synaptic Input Patterns in Multicompartmental Models

In the laboratory of Dr. Dieter Jaeger at Emory University, we use computer simulations to study how the biophysical properties of neurons—including their three-dimensional structure, passive membrane resistance and capacitance, and active membrane conductances generated by ion channels—affect the way that the neurons transfer synaptic inputs into the action potential streams that represent their output. Because our ultimate goal is to understand how neurons process and relay information in a living animal, we try to make our computer simulations as realistic as possible. As such, the computer models reflect the detailed morphology and all of the ion channels known to exist in the particular neuron types being simulated, and the model neurons are tested with synaptic input patterns that are intended to approximate the inputs that real neurons receive in vivo. The purpose of this workshop tutorial was to explain what we mean by ‘in vivo-like’ synaptic input patterns, and how we introduce these input patterns into our computer simulations using the freely available GENESIS software package (http://www.genesis-sim.org/GENESIS). The presentation was divided into four sections: first, an explanation of what we are talking about when we refer to in vivo-like synaptic input patterns

Simulating Wind and Warmth in Virtual Reality: Conception, Realization and Evaluation for a CAVE Environment

Wind and warmth sensations proved to be able to enhance users' state of presence in Virtual Reality applications. Still, only few projects deal with their detailed effect on the user and general ways of implementing such stimuli. This work tries to fill this gap: After analyzing requirements for hardware and software concerning wind and warmth simulations, a hardware and also a software setup for the application in a CAVE environment is proposed. The setup is evaluated with regard to technical details and requirements, but also - in the form of a pilot study - in view of user experience and presence. Our setup proved to comply with the requirements and leads to satisfactory results. To our knowledge, the low cost simulation system (approx. 2200 Euro) presented here is one of the most extensive, most flexible and best evaluated systems for creating wind and warmth stimuli in CAVE-based VR applications.