Unittest of dopamine synapse model

[suku248]

There are only manual tests of stdp_dopa_connection and they are outdated and will be removed with #774. A unittest of this synapse model is required.

[terhorstd]

@abigailm is there progress on this one?

[heplesser]

Model should be re-created using NESTML, including tests.

[jougs]

@clinssen: Whats your take on @heplesser's comment? Would this kind of third-factor plasticity be currently feasible in NESTML? Thanks!

[heplesser]

To expand a little on my comment from 1.5 years ago: If this model including tests can be built with NESTML in the near future, that would be a way to go. If not, we need to write tests for the model as is.

[clinssen]

Me and @YounesBouhadjar will write a unit test that:

• generates random spike times: pre, post and dopa (but will also test some edge-case predefined times, such as pre and post spikes occurring at the exact same time)
• Runs a NEST simulation with three nodes and a volume transmitter with these spike times, obtain weight recording;
• Runs a Python sim with these spike times
  • precise integration to the next spike (whichever of the three)
  • update values w, c, n using exponential solution of the ODE
  • update values c or n depending on arriving spike
• Compares Python and NEST-obtained timeseries of w

[jougs]

@clinssen, @YounesBouhadjar: are there any news on this?

[clinssen]

This was pre-empted by some other projects and queries, such as #1840, a NESTML active dendrite tutorial review, and the triplet synapse. As the latter is now working and third-factor plasticity rules are next on the NESTML agenda, we expect to pick this up again within the next few weeks!

[jougs]

Thanks for the update and no worries. I was just going through the stale issues in the automated testing project.

[github-actions]

Issue automatically marked stale!