v2.10.0

NEST 2.10.0 contains 303 repository commits by 25 developers since v2.8.0. The most notable changes over v2.8.0 are:

• Support for simulations of gap junctions (see Jan Hahne et al., 2015)
• Framework for structural plasticity (see Markus Butz et al., 2013 and Markus Butz et al., 2014)
• Full support for the K computer (just in case you found one under your Christmas tree ;-))

New features and functionality

• To group connections that belong together, synapse models may now contain a numeric label, specified at creation time. GetConnections can select on this label.
• Array parameters in calls to Connect can now also be specified as lists and tuples.

New models and model updates

• New Tsodyks synapse model with common properties.
• New STDP triplet synapse (see Pfister & Gerstner, 2006).
• All precise models are now derived from ArchivingNode to support STDP connections.
• parrot_neuron now supports connections onto port 0 and 1.
• Added call to set_spiketime to make STDP work with this model.

Documentation and example improvements

• Updated examples for the use of CSA in NEST.
• Cleaned up hpc_benchmark.sli, which now also randomizes initial membrane potentials.
• Updated online documentation on kernel parameters, including rng seeds.
• New tests for parrot_neuron_ps and parrot_neuron and for STDP between parrot neurons

Bug fixes

• parrot_neuron_ps now saves times of outgoing spikes.
• binary_neuron now records spike times.
• pp_pop_psc_delta does not support STDP anymore (as this was not sensible).
• binary neurons and non-binary neurons cannot be connected anymore (which was possible but meaningless)
• MUSIC now behaves correctly upon ResetKernel.
• PyNEST now correctly handles changes to argv made by MPI or MUSIC during initialization.

Under the hood

• The PyNEST high-level API was split into multiple files and submodules are loaded dynamically.
• Improved tools for static analysis and automatic formatting of code in the CI and locally.
• Fix errors in models when non default tics_per_ms setting is used.

Contributors since v2.6.0

• Hannah Bos
• Rajakelshmi Deepu
• Moritz Deger
• Sandra Diaz
• Mikael Djurfeldt
• Jochen Martin Eppler
• Jan Hahne
• Moritz Helias
• Tammo Ippen
• Susanne Kunkel
• Frank Michler
• Janne Morén
• Abigail Morrison
• Alexander Peyser
• Hans Ekkehard Plesser
• Maximilian Schmidt
• Alex Seeholzer
• Teo Stocco

Citation

If you use this version of NEST, please cite it as Bos, Hannah et al. (2015). NEST 2.10.0. Zenodo. 10.5281/zenodo.44222. The full citation is available in different formats on Zenodo.