L-neuron: A modeling tool for the efficient generation and parsimonious description of dendritic morphology

We introduce L-Neuron (www.krasnow.gmu.edu/L-Neuron), a software package for the generation and study of anatomically accurate neuronal analogs. L-Neuron is based on sets of recursive rules that parsimoniously describe dendritic geometry and topology by locally inter-correlating morphological parameters (e.g. branch diameter and length). The L-Neuron algorithm stochastically samples parameter values from experimental statistical distributions, to generate multiple, non-identical virtual neurons within various morphological classes. Such neuronal structures, described by an L-system/Turtle graphic formalism, can be converted in various 3D-graphic formats and/or in compartmental anatomical files to be used in electrophysiological simulation studies with modeling programs such as Genesis or Neuron. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.