Blender for Brains (github.com)

NeuroTicks, a new visual CAD tool designed for spiking neural networks (SNNs), has been announced as a prototype that integrates with the NEST Simulator. This innovative tool allows researchers to visually construct and manipulate neural architectures in 3D space, easing the complexity of defining topologies and connectivity in Python. By enabling users to design neuron geometries, apply flow fields, and create functional modules, NeuroTicks is aimed at advancing connectomic hypothesis testing. It allows users to observe real-time simulations, adjust synaptic parameters on-the-fly, and even simulate lesions, pushing the frontiers of neuroscience research. The significance of NeuroTicks lies in its potential to simplify the construction of biologically accurate neural simulations, thus enhancing our understanding of brain functionality. By bridging the abstraction of neural modeling with spatially explicit designs, it addresses challenges prevalent in conventional methods. Built on PyVista for rendering and equipped with features like automatic simulation snapshots and a user-friendly GUI, NeuroTicks offers a robust environment for exploring dynamic neural interactions. While still in the prototype phase, it promises to facilitate innovative research into brain connectivity and dynamics, ultimately benefiting the broader AI and ML community in its exploration of neural-inspired computational models.