Darkwaar’s 41st experiment turns a tiny neural network into a machine you can touch. Tune its paths, launch a pulse, and make the observed output match the target.
Read the circuit
Each glowing ring controls one connection. Tap it to cycle through three weights:
- +1 is excitatory: an active source pushes the next neuron toward activation.
- -1 is inhibitory: an active source holds the next neuron back.
- 0 disables the connection completely.
Press PROPAGATE to send the signal across the board. Every neuron adds its incoming weighted signals and lights only when the total reaches its threshold. The target display shows the pattern you must reproduce; the actual display reveals what your current circuit produced.
Three compact puzzles
First Signal introduces a live input and a simple positive path. Inhibition adds a locked excitatory connection that must be countered with a negative weight. Recursive Path places hidden feature neurons between the inputs and outputs, so you must follow a two-stage chain before tuning the final paths.
There is no guessing behind the animation: pulses travel in order, hidden features resolve first, and the output changes only when the signal reaches it. RESET restores the current circuit, while HELP keeps the visual language close at hand.
A physical network
The circuit is presented as a real 3D isometric board. Layered neuron pedestals, metallic beams, directional markers, emissive cores, soft shadows and travelling pulses give every abstract operation a physical role. Its geometric language keeps all three layouts crisp and readable without relying on decorative character models.
Play Neural Circuit
Tap a weight ring, press PROPAGATE, and trace why the network made its decision. All three circuits take only a few minutes to solve.
