EONS v2.0 - Introduction

What is E.O.N.S.:

E.O.N.S. is a simulation platform that allows users to create synaptic models. This means that users can litteraly build a virtual synapse from scratch, starting with a few calcium channels, a release site and postsynaptic receptors, and eventually implement more complex mechanisms (second messenger pathways, metabotropic receptors). E.O.N.S. was designed to provide users with a computational tool to better understand the interactions between elements within the synapse, as well as the influence of its geometry.

eons DB - client

From a computational standpoint, E.O.N.S. consists of a Java WebStart application that communicates with a central database in which the models and elements are stored. Users can save and retrieve models and parts of these models.

Structure of E.O.N.S.:

The E.O.N.S. simulation platform contains models, structures, elements, reactions and simulations. Following is a definition of these components, and an explanation of how they interact:
  • Models:
    A model is an entity in which all simulated components are defined.
    • eons structure
  • Structures:
    A structure is a container for modeling elements. It is a conceptual container (you can think of it as a bucket for your tools) and can become a physical container when associated to a geometry. It then adopts the dimensions of the mesh to which it is associated. A model can contain several structures (ex: presynaptic, cleft, postsynaptic, etc...).

  • Elements:
    An element is a model part, a unit entity that can be added or removed from the rest of the model. An element contains parameters which can be constants or variables. As an example, an element can be a calcium channel, a calcium buffering store or a postsynaptic receptor.
    • eons elements
  • Reactions:
    Elements interact with their environment. These interactions are described as Reactions in E.O.N.S.. Reactions represent a set of mathematical expressions that describe the events or interactions occuring in the system.

  • Simulations:
    A simulation is the actual in-silico experiment. A simulation can solely be run on an entire model. Refer to 'Creating / Launching simulations' for further details.


This page was last updated on Nov. 29, 2005.