AnimatLab.com

What is AnimatLab?

AnimatLab is a software tool that combines biomechanical simulation and biologically realistic neural networks. You can build the body of an animal, robot, or other machine and place it in a virtual world where the physics of its interaction with the environment are accurate and realistic. You can then design a nervous system that controls the behavior of the body in the environment.

Why do we need AnimatLab?

A central goal of neuroscience and computation neurobiology is to understand how the nervous system is organized to control behavior. Behavior is controlled by neural circuits that link sensory inputs to decision networks, and link decision elements to motor networks and muscles. The dynamics of this interaction are central to the functional control of behavior.

How does AnimatLab Help?

AnimatLab was written to address this problem. It provides a software environment in which models of the body biomechanics and nervous system interact dynamically in a virtual physical world where all the relevant neural and biomechanical parameters can be observed and manipulated.

What can you do with AnimatLab?

AnimatLab currently has two different neural models that can be used. One is an abstract firing rate neuron model, and the other is a more realistic conductance based integrate-and-fire spiking neural model. It is also possible for you to add new neural and biomechanical models as plug-in modules. There are several different joint types, and a host of different body types that can be used.

How Do I Get AnimatLab?

This link will take you directly to the download page. AnimatLab is free for anyone to use, but it only works on Microsoft windows at the moment. We have plans to port this over to other operating systems in the future, but that will still be a little while. AnimatLab also has an extensive help system with over 150 pages of text and 45 video tutorials that demonstrate using every major feature of the program.