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PyFibers: An open-source NEURON-Python package to simulate responses of model nerve fibers to electrical stimulation
Daniel P Marshall1, Elie S Farah1,2, Eric D Musselman1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
Plos Computational Biology
|December 12, 2025
Summary
PyFibers is a new Python package that simplifies computational modeling of peripheral nerve fibers for neuromodulation therapies. This open-source tool standardizes fiber simulations and data analysis, accelerating the development of new electrical stimulation treatments.
Area of Science:
- Computational neuroscience
- Biophysics
- Medical technology
Background:
- Computational modeling of peripheral nerve fibers is crucial for advancing neuromodulation therapies.
- Existing methods using NEURON software often rely on outdated languages and involve complex, repetitive coding.
- A need exists for standardized tools to streamline the creation, simulation, and analysis of nerve fiber models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop PyFibers, a NEURON-Python package designed to simplify and standardize computational modeling of peripheral nerve fibers.
- To provide a unified framework for creating fiber models, executing electrical stimulation simulations, and analyzing resulting data.
- To support the development of novel neuromodulation therapies through accessible computational tools.
Main Methods:
- Developed PyFibers, an open-source Python package integrating with NEURON.
- Included 11 established peripheral nerve fiber models within a standardized framework.
- Validated the implementation of each model in PyFibers against original published results.
Main Results:
- PyFibers successfully standardizes the creation and simulation of peripheral nerve fiber models.
- The package facilitates efficient data analysis for electrical stimulation studies.
- Validated implementations of 11 diverse fiber models are available within the PyFibers framework.
Conclusions:
- PyFibers offers a simplified and standardized approach to computational modeling of peripheral nerve fibers.
- This tool accelerates research and development for novel therapies utilizing electrical stimulation, block, and recording.
- The open-source nature of PyFibers promotes wider adoption and collaborative advancement in neuromodulation research.
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