An interactive 3D environment for exploring computational neuroscience, brain regions, neural activity, and simulated neurochemical modulation.
NeuroPulse 3D is an open-source, browser-based neuroscience visualization project designed to make computational brain models explorable by both general audiences and people with a scientific background.
Rather than presenting the brain as a static diagram, NeuroPulse combines an interactive 3D anatomical representation with a simplified computational neural network. Users can observe simulated activity, explore brain regions, apply predefined modulation profiles, and create their own experimental profiles.
NeuroPulse is an educational and exploratory computational model. It is not a clinical, diagnostic, pharmacological, or biological prediction tool.
Explore a three-dimensional representation of the brain directly in the browser.
Users can:
- Rotate and inspect the brain in 3D
- Zoom using the mouse wheel or dedicated controls
- Focus on individual brain regions
- Return to a whole-brain view
- Observe simulated neural activity across the network
- Distinguish major structures through educational color coding
The colors used for anatomical structures are visualization aids and do not represent the literal appearance of biological tissue.
NeuroPulse contains a simplified computational neural network based on Leaky Integrate-and-Fire (LIF) dynamics.
Neurons receive input, accumulate membrane potential, cross a firing threshold, generate simulated spikes, and influence connected neurons.
The simulator also includes adjustable spontaneous stimulation, allowing users to explore different activity regimes.
Values such as simulated events per second and displayed spike rates belong to the NeuroPulse computational model and should not be interpreted as direct measurements of biological neuronal firing rates.
Neural events can be displayed using different visual styles.
- Electric emphasizes sharper, higher-contrast activity and rapid-looking signal propagation.
- Organic uses smoother transitions and softer illumination.
An Activity Contrast control changes how strongly neural events are visually emphasized without modifying the underlying neural simulation.
NeuroPulse includes selectable representations of major brain regions and structures, including:
- Prefrontal Cortex
- Motor Cortex
- Somatosensory Cortex
- Parietal Cortex
- Temporal Cortex
- Visual Cortex
- Hippocampus
- Amygdala
- Thalamus
- Striatum
- Cerebellum
- Brainstem
NeuroPulse includes predefined profiles representing simplified effects associated with substances and neurochemical systems.
Examples include:
- Baseline activity
- Caffeine
- Alcohol / Ethanol
- Dopaminergic modulation
- Serotonergic modulation
- GABAergic modulation
Profiles may alter computational parameters such as:
- Basal drive
- Excitatory gain
- Inhibitory gain
- Firing threshold
- Synaptic gain
- Signal propagation
- Target brain regions
- Spontaneous stimulation
These profiles are simplified computational approximations intended for visualization and education.
They are not pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic models and should not be used to predict the effects of a substance on an individual.
One of the core goals of NeuroPulse is extensibility.
Users can create their own modulation profiles directly from the interface.
The profile builder can describe characteristics such as:
- Profile name
- Description
- Main mechanism
- Neurochemical system
- Receptors or biological targets
- Target brain regions
- Excitatory and inhibitory modulation
- Threshold changes
- Synaptic modulation
- Propagation characteristics
- Pulse color
Designed for people without formal neuroscience training.
Technical parameters are presented through more approachable concepts and guided choices while still being translated internally into parameters understood by the simulation.
Designed for neuroscience students, researchers, biomedical professionals, enthusiasts, and users comfortable with technical terminology.
It exposes more detailed computational and neurobiological parameters directly.
When NeuroPulse starts, users can choose how scientific information should be presented.
General uses accessible explanations, additional context, and simplified terminology.
Academic uses terminology more appropriate for neuroscience, biomedical sciences, and computational modeling.
Both modes interact with the same underlying simulation. The difference is how the model and its parameters are communicated to the user.
The interface currently supports:
- 🇺🇸 English
- 🇧🇷 Portuguese
Language selection is independent from the General/Academic explanation mode.
NeuroPulse can open external searches related to the currently selected or custom-created profile.
Supported destinations include:
- Google Scholar
- PubMed
No search API or API key is required.
Searches are based primarily on the profile name, so users should use recognizable scientific, pharmacological, chemical, or common names instead of arbitrary identifiers.
For PubMed searches, English terminology is recommended.
External search results are provided by their respective services and are not generated, reviewed, or endorsed by NeuroPulse.
The human brain is vastly more complex than any visualization presented in NeuroPulse.
NeuroPulse intentionally simplifies many biological processes in order to create an interactive and understandable computational environment.
Among other limitations, the current model does not attempt to reproduce the complete complexity of:
- Human neuronal diversity
- Real anatomical connectivity
- Neurotransmitter kinetics
- Receptor subtype distributions
- Gene expression
- Glial activity
- Metabolism
- Blood-brain barrier dynamics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Long-term synaptic plasticity
- Individual biological variability
- Neurological or psychiatric disorders
A visually convincing result should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that the simulated behavior accurately predicts a biological outcome.
NeuroPulse should be treated as an educational computational sandbox and visualization tool.
Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/X86Max/neuropulse.git
cd neuropulseStart a simple local HTTP server:
python3 -m http.server 8080Then open:
http://localhost:8080
A local HTTP server is recommended instead of opening index.html
directly because browser security rules may restrict certain resources
when using the file:// protocol.
A modern browser with WebGL support is recommended, including recent versions of:
- Google Chrome / Chromium
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
Performance depends on the device, GPU, browser, and number of simulated elements being displayed.
NeuroPulse is built primarily with:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- Three.js
- WebGL
The project is intentionally designed to remain lightweight and accessible directly through a web browser.
Neuroscience is fascinating, but the barrier between scientific literature and public understanding can be enormous.
NeuroPulse attempts to occupy the space between a simple brain illustration and a professional neuroscience simulation.
The project follows three main principles:
Accessible enough to explore.
Someone without a neuroscience background should be able to open
NeuroPulse and learn from it.
Detailed enough to encourage deeper study.
Scientific terminology and computational parameters should remain
available for users who want them.
Transparent about its limitations.
A simplified model should never pretend to be more biologically accurate
than it actually is.
NeuroPulse is not intended to replace neuroscience software, scientific literature, laboratory experiments, or professional education.
It is intended to encourage curiosity about them.
NeuroPulse is currently in beta development.
Features, simulation parameters, visual representations, terminology, and internal architecture may change as the project evolves.
Version history, release notes, downloadable snapshots, fixes, and known issues are maintained separately in the repository's Releases section.
Ideas, scientific corrections, bug reports, interface suggestions, new modulation profiles, and technical contributions are welcome.
If you find an issue or have an idea for NeuroPulse, open an Issue or contribute through the repository.
Scientific feedback is especially valuable. If a description, mechanism, receptor association, anatomical representation, or computational assumption can be improved, please provide references whenever possible.
NeuroPulse may link users to external scientific literature, but the existence of a publication does not automatically validate a custom simulation profile.
Users creating profiles should distinguish between:
- what scientific literature reports;
- how that evidence is interpreted;
- how NeuroPulse approximates it computationally.
These are not necessarily equivalent.
Version history and release notes are maintained separately through GitHub Releases.
Each release may include its own changelog, fixes, known limitations, and downloadable snapshot.
This README describes the project as a whole and is intentionally not used as a version changelog.
NeuroPulse 3D is released under the MIT License.
See the LICENSE file in the repository for the complete license text.
Explore the model. Observe the activity. Question the simulation. Follow the evidence.