What do the displays look like?

When you first run each program, you will see a window that displays a set of axes, some controls for the values of parameters that are appropriate for the particular simulation you are running, and some control buttons ("Go", "Clear", & "Reset"). Most of each simulation's controls consist of some sliders along with small text fields that display the current value of the parameter. In some simulations you will also see displayed two or more "check boxes" that allow you to determine what graph(s) will be displayed or even how a particular simulation will be run.

Running a Simulation

When you click the "Go" button, a simulation will be run using the parameter values that you have specified, and a graph of the results will be displayed. The graph for each subsequent run is displayed using a different line color, and a legend indicating which color represents the 1^st run, the 2^nd run, and so on is presented across the top of the display. This will make it easier for you to keep track of the effects of parameter changes you've made. Note, however, that after the 10^thrun, the line color reverts to black until you clear the display.

Other information may also be displayed along with the graph, depending on which simulation you are running.

Clearing the Display

The programs are written so that the results of each run remain on display. The intention of this feature is to allow you to readily compare the consequences of changes in the simulation's parameters. However, after a few runs the display will probably become too cluttered to be useful. When you reach this point, simply click on the "Clear" button to clear the display, and you are ready to continue with more runs. Note that clicking the "Clear" button does not reset the parameters to their original values; the values used for the last simulation are preserved.

Resetting the Parameter Values to Their Default Values

At any time you wish to run a simulation based on the original values for the parameters, simply click on the "Reset" button. This returns the parameters to their original values and automatically runs a simulation based on those values.

Changing the values of a simulation's parameters

If you wish to change the value for a parameter, there are several ways to do this, depending on your individual preferences and on the magnitude of the change you wish to make.

Using the Sliders

There are three ways to use the sliders to change a parameter's value:
1. placing the tip of the mouse cursor on the slider, depressing and holding the left mouse button while you drag the slider to the desired value (displayed in the text field above the slider).
   
2. placing the tip of the mouse cursor in the 'track' of the slider and clicking the left mouse button. This will change the value of the slider by 10 units every time you click the left mouse button. To increase the slider's value, place the tip of the mouse cursor above the slider; to decrease it, place the cursor below the slider.
   
3. clicking the 'up arrow' or 'down arrow' at the end of the slider's track. Each mouse click will change the slider's value by one unit.
   
You will probably find that the sliders are the easiest way to change a parameter's value, particularly if you are making large changes and don't need the slider set to a particular value.

Using the Keyboard

You may also change the parameter's value by using the text field immediately above the slider. Simply click at the desired point in the number in the text field or double click anywhere in the text field to highlight the entire number. In the latter case, whatever you type will overwrite the current entry. Note that there are limits to the acceptable values for each parameter, and their corresponding sliders are programmed not to exceed those limits. However, you can type values into the text fields that exceed those limits. If you type in a number that is too large, the slider will simply move to its maximum point and the simulation will use that maximum value when you run it. However, if you type in a negative number or one that is less that the slider's nominal minimum, the simulation may give weird results. So, try to stay within the correct range for each parameter (which you may quickly determine by dragging the sliders to their minimum and maximum points).

Switching from one simulation to another

To switch from one simulation to another, use the "Back" function or arrow of your browser to return to the "Neurophysiology Lab Simulations" home page and click on the link to the simulation you wish to run.