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	University of Nevada\\
	Reno
	
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	{\Large \bf Parallel Implementation of a Large Scale\\
	Biologically Realistic NeoCortical \\
	Neural Network Simulator}
	
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	A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the\\
	requirements for the degree of Master of Science\\
	with a major in Computer Engineering.
	
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	by
	
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	E. Courtenay Wilson
	
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	Dr. Frederick C. Harris, Jr.,  Thesis advisor
	
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	August 2001
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	The thesis of E. Courtenay Wilson is approved:

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	Thesis Advisor
	
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	Department Chair
	
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	Dean, Graduate School
	
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	University of Nevada\\
	Reno
	
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	August 2001
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        {\bf Dedication}
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        To Kaija
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        {\bf Acknowledgements}
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        I would like to thank ...

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	{\bf Abstract}
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	This thesis discusses the work that was done to create an
	object-oriented, biologically realistic neocortical-neural network
	simulator. The object-oriented design for this simulator enables
	a flexibility in scale and modularity of the system, as well as
	modeling the relationships between neurons in a given network. The
	simulator also incorporates laboratory-determined synaptic and
	membrane parameters into a large-scale simulation, thus modeling
	realistic cortical modules. Parallel processing of this very
	large-scale, object-oriented simulator is key for modeling biological
	accuracy of synaptic and membrane dynamics, while preserving the
	relationships among neurons. Results
	show biological accuracy in synaptic and membrane dynamics,
	as well as suggest that computational models of this scope can
	produce realistic spike encoding of human speech.
