Connectionists: Release of NEST 2.2.2

[Yury V. Zaytsev]

Dear colleagues,

We are very happy to announce the release of NEST 2.2.2!

NEST is a fast and efficient simulator for networks of spiking neurons
developed by NEST Initiative, distributed under the terms of the GNU
General Public License version 2 (or later) and can be downloaded from

    http://www.nest-initiative.org/index.php/Software:Download

Additionally, we make available Ubuntu-based live media in both ISO and
OVA formats, suitable, for example, for importing into VirtualBox, or
burning to a DVD. NEST, NEURON, Brian, PyNN and other software comes
pre-installed, which is useful for trying out NEST without installing it
on your computer, especially for Windows and Mac OS X users.

NEST 2.2.2 is primarily a bugfix release, resolving bugs in various
components of NEST 2.2.1 and featuring several important improvements,
such as new and updated models, as well as performance enhancements.


Release notes for NEST 2.2.2
----------------------------

* New models and devices:

  - `iaf_psc_alpha_multisynapse`
  - `iaf_psc_exp_multisynapse`
  - `mcculloch_pitts_neuron`
  - `ginzburg_neuron`
  - `spin_detector`
  - `sinusoidal_gamma_generator`

* Updated models and devices:

  - `smp_generator` is replaced by `sinusoidal_poisson_generator`, which
sends an '''individual''' spike train to each of its targets by default;
be wary when updating your code!

    In order to replicate the old behavior of the `smp_generator` (all
targets receive the same spike train), set `/individual_spike_trains` to
`false` on the `sinusoidal_poisson_generator` model before creating a
generator node.

  - `iaf_psc_alpha`: bugfixes

  - `stdp_dopamine_synapse`: bugfixes

* PyNEST: fixes to the `DataConnect()` interface

* Topology:

  - more efficient `GetTargetNodes()` implementation
  - lognormal distribution for parameter values

* Various bugfixes to the kernel, SLI, build system and other areas


As always, please use the NEST user mailing list for posting support
requests and bug reports.

Happy simulating!

Beautiful greetings on behalf of the NEST Initiative,

--
Dipl.-Phys. Yury V. Zaytsev

Simulation Lab Neuroscience
Jülich Supercomputing Centre
Institute for Advanced Simulation
Jülich Research Center

http://www.fz-juelich.de/ias/jsc

Office: +49 2461 61-9466
Fax # : +49 2461 61-9460




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