HOSTED BY
Rolf Kötter, rk@donders.ru.nl

GUEST EDITORS
James A. Bednar (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Andrew Davison (UNIC, CNRS, France)
Markus Diesmann (RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan)
Marc-Oliver Gewaltig (Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Germany)
Michael Hines (Yale University, USA)
Eilif Muller (LCN-EPFL, Switzerland)

ABOUT THE SPECIAL TOPIC
Python is rapidly becoming the de facto standard language for systems integration. Python has a large user and developer-base external to the neuroscience community, and a vast module library that facilitates rapid and maintainable development of complex and intricate systems.

In this special section, we highlight recent efforts to develop Python modules for the domain of neuroscience software and neuroinformatics:

- simulators and simulator interfaces
- data collection and analysis
- sharing, re-use, storage and databasing of models and data
- stimulus generation
- parameter search and optimization
- visualization
- VLSI hardware interfacing


Moreover, we seek to provide a representative overview of existing mature Python modules for neuroscience and neuroinformatics, to demonstrate a critical mass and show that Python is an appropriate choice of interpreter interface for future neuroscience software development.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
September 14, 2008