PyFibers: An open-source NEURON-Python package to simulate responses of model nerve fibers to electrical stimulation.

Abstract

Computational modeling of peripheral nerve fibers is a key tool for designing improved neuromodulation therapies. The NEURON software is commonly used to create biophysical simulations of nerve fibers, often in the outdated HOC language. Whether written in HOC or Python, implementing fiber simulations involves a steep learning curve and requires a large amount of standard, boilerplate code that is typically written anew for each project. There is a need for a code package that standardizes and simplifies the creation of model fibers, the execution of simulations of electrical stimulation, and the analysis of the resulting data. We created PyFibers, a NEURON-Python package that provides tools for accomplishing all these tasks and supports the development of new fiber models and stimulation protocols. PyFibers includes 11 fiber models from prior publications under a shared framework, and we validated each model's implementation in PyFibers against the original results. Our open-source tool simplifies and standardizes computational modeling of peripheral nerve fiber responses to electrical stimulation, providing a platform for the development of novel therapies using electrical stimulation, block, and recording.