Peripheral Nervous Network Simulator : A Computer Networks approach

Sammanfattning

The peripheral nervous system can be seen as a huge network of neurons that prop-agates signals across the human body. In fact, as seen in [1] , "All the information streaming in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is transmitted along axons byelectro-chemical signals called action potentials". The ordinary conduction of such nervous signals, or action potentials, can be prevented however due to nerve damage. In this context, the accurate passage of information to an intended destination or partwithin the organism is obstructed. Admittedly, it is understood that physiotherapy can be quite helpful in regaining correct functionality over a damaged part of the peripheral nervous system. Yet, it is still hard to visualize the nervous activity as it is achieved inside the human body. Simulating the nervous system would providea platform to visualize how the system works and how a damaged nerve can affect the PNS. Indeed, the purpose of this study is to simulate a virtual network that im-itates a general topology of the human peripheral nervous system e.g(simulate the nervous structure and behaviour of the human arm) that shows how the signals canbe routed to their correct destination and showcase how can the simulator created simulate biological nerve damage in its system.