The FitzHugh-Nagumo Model is simulates a biological neuron based on the van der Pol equations for a damped oscillator. It has two state variables: the voltage within the neuron and a recovery variable. This simulation allows the user to set parameter values as well as see the phase space in a separate window. The user can set the exact state by clicking on the phase space plot and watching the phase portrait, he or she can develop intuition as to the dynamics of this biological neuron abstraction.

The FitzHugh-Nagumo Model was developed using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.   Double clicking the jar file will run the program if Java is installed.  You can modify this simulation if you have EJS installed by right-clicking within the map and selecting "Open Ejs Model" from the pop-up menu item.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.6 of Java (JRE).