Neuronal growth via hybrid system of self-growing and diffusion based grammar rules: I

The formation of neuronal networks requires axonal growth towards target neurons. A simple set of grammar rules is introduced to describe axonal growth towards target cells situated both at short and long distances from the growing neuron. Growth for short distances is described by growth following the highest gradient of a chemical compound (which is spread by diffusion from the targets). This approach fails to describe long-distance growth, which is addressed by adopting a graph grammar theory for growing trees. With these rules a flexible tool to draw network of neurons by computer can be developed.