Physarum vs NeuroPhysMatrix

Explore artificial life through a living, flowing simulation inspired by Physarum polycephalum, the slime mold famous for forming networks, solving paths, and showing intelligence without a brain. Physarum turns simple local rules into complex motion. Thousands of agents sense trails, turn, move, and deposit new traces. As the field evolves, branching networks, waves, and organic textures emerge in real time. Use Physarum to: - Tune sensor distance, turn angle, movement, and trail strength - Paint into the field and guide the simulation by touch - Explore chaotic, branching, and self-organizing patterns - Save and restore interesting agents, fields, and rules - Create vivid generative visuals with color controls It is part science toy, part generative art studio, and part meditative visual instrument. Whether you study emergent systems, teach artificial life, or simply enjoy hypnotic motion, Physarum gives you a hands-on way to watch complexity grow from simple behavior.

NeuroPhysMatrix lets you explore neuronal action potentials, firing characteristics, ion channels, optogenetics, synaptic integration, neural circuits, and axon conduction by changing simulation parameters. An optogenetics simulation has been added to celebrate the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Change stimulus strength and duration, channel conductance, input location, and connection strength to see how membrane voltage and currents respond. SEVEN SIMULATIONS • Action Potential: Relate membrane voltage to Na⁺ and K⁺ currents, channel states, and ion movement. Explore refractoriness with paired stimuli, strength–duration curves, and recovery from Na⁺ inactivation. • Neuronal Firing Characteristics: Compare firing rate, adaptation, delayed firing, and rebound responses in representative neuron models. • Ion Channels: Use current clamp and voltage clamp to explore the relationship between membrane voltage and 14 representative channels and background currents. • Optogenetics: Compare light stimuli, photocurrents and membrane voltage with excitatory and inhibitory opsins, including ChR2, ArchT, eNpHR3.0 and GtACR2. • Synaptic Integration: Compare how input location, number, strength, timing, and dendritic morphology affect voltage responses. • Neural Circuits: Change excitatory and inhibitory connection strengths and transmission delays. Observe interactions through voltage traces and spike rasters. • Axon Conduction: Explore schematic models of myelinated and unmyelinated conduction and the effects of focal demyelination. KEEP RESULTS IN VIEW Change the time-axis range and observation time to connect waveforms with diagrams. Switch between Settings and Guide to review parameter meanings and key points while exploring results. PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Edit cell count, wiring, and the stimulated cell in neural circuits. • Edit dendritic branches, parent connections, length, and diameter. • Save and load named conditions, including inputs, in all seven workspaces. • Record experiment conditions and key measurements, compare numerical results, and export CSV. • Adjust action-potential conductances and use comparison features. • Hold ion-channel, optogenetic and dendritic waveforms to compare responses before and after changes. • Unlock five specialized neuron presets. Basic simulations, circuit and dendritic morphology presets, basic settings, and guides are free. Four foundational neuron presets are free; five additional presets are included in Pro. Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac in 10 languages. Waveforms and diagrams are computational models and schematic representations, not exact reproductions of a particular biological cell or patient. This app is not a medical device and is not intended for diagnosis or treatment.