Interactive Basic Calcium Dynamics Simulator

This interactive simulator runs a repeating 2-second sweep simulating presynaptic Ca²⁺ dynamics in a basic well-mixed single compartment model. One can use this to explore how different components of Calcium homeostasis such as Ca²⁺ extrusion or buffering parameters, and factors such as exogenous Calcium buffers/dyes influence free Ca2+ transients.

Control Options (left) let you adjust the following:

• Under Calcium Buffers the kinetic scheme and concentration of Ca2+ buffers and indicators can be altered to match different experimental Calcium indicators
• Under Calcium Extrusion the rate of Calcium removal can be altered. In this model we encompass all Plasma membrane Calcium removal in a single process
• Under Calcium Influx the duration of Calcium influx, the number of action potentials and their frequency can be altered.

The top chart shows the free intracellular Ca²⁺ plotted against time, the second and third chart show the amount of Calcium Indicator or endogenous buffer bound to Ca²⁺.