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UI Controls

Brain Visualizer provides flexible interface controls to customize the appearance and scale of the application. This guide covers all UI customization options to optimize your workflow.

UI Scaling​

The interface scale affects all UI elements including text, buttons, windows, and panels.

Quick Scale Controls​

Located in the top-right corner of the toolbar:

Increase Size:

  • Click the + (bigger) button
  • UI elements scale up
  • Useful for high-DPI displays or presentations

Decrease Size:

  • Click the - (smaller) button
  • UI elements scale down
  • Useful for seeing more content

Incremental Changes:

  • Each click adjusts by one scale step
  • Changes apply immediately
  • Smooth scaling transitions

Available Scale Levels​

Brain Visualizer typically offers multiple scale presets:

  • Very Small: Maximum content visibility
  • Small: Compact interface
  • Medium: Default comfortable size
  • Large: Easier reading
  • Very Large: Accessibility and presentations

The exact number of levels may vary by version.

Scale Persistence​

  • Your chosen scale is remembered between sessions
  • Applies to all windows and UI elements
  • Consistent across different views

Theme System​

Current Theme​

Brain Visualizer currently uses:

  • Dark Theme: Default and recommended
  • Dark backgrounds reduce eye strain
  • High contrast for readability
  • Professional appearance

Theme Components​

The theme affects:

  • Background Colors: Window and panel backgrounds
  • Text Colors: All text and labels
  • Accent Colors: Highlights and selections
  • Button Styles: All interactive elements
  • Panel Styles: Window frames and separators

Top Toolbar​

The main toolbar provides quick access to essential features:

Left Section (Information Display)​

Burst Rate:

  • Shows neural processing frequency (Hz)
  • Editable field to change rate
  • 0 Hz = paused, higher = faster processing

Neuron Count:

  • Current neurons / Maximum neurons
  • Formatted with thousands separators
  • Updates as areas are added/removed

Synapse Count:

  • Current synapses / Maximum synapses
  • Formatted with thousands separators
  • Updates as connections are created

State Indicator:

  • Shows FEAGI connection status
  • Color-coded (green = connected, red = disconnected)
  • Hover for details

Middle Section (Quick Access)​

Root scene top bar:

  • Circuits, Inputs, Outputs, then Connectivity Rules
  • Hover a title to open its list. There is no list icon.
  • + creates one
  • Choosing a circuit, input, or output moves the view to it
  • Choosing a connectivity rule opens the Connectivity Rules Manager with that rule shown

Connectivity Rules Icon

Circuit Builder and Brain Monitor tab bars:

  • Shown only while the pointer is on that tab. Hidden when the pointer is elsewhere. A menu opened from the bar stays up until it closes.
  • Circuits, Interconnect Areas, and Memory Areas, in that order
  • The whole tab bar is two UI sizes smaller than the root scene top bar
  • Hover a title to open its list. There is no Elements menu and no list icon.
  • + creates one. Choosing an entry moves the view to it.
  • A tab opened on the main circuit also shows Inputs and Outputs. Other region tabs do not.
  • Classifier is added from Add Circuit (the Circuits +). It is an integrated circuit: a gold IC chip hangs off the top-right corner of its image. See Integrated Circuits. Logic AND and Logic OR stay genomes or connectomes on that same window.

Right Section (Tools and Settings)​

Options Button:

Options Icon

  • Opens Options/Settings window
  • Configure application preferences
  • Access advanced settings

Camera Animations Button: Camera Icon

  • Opens Camera Animations window
  • Record and play camera paths
  • Save important viewpoints

Guide Button: Guide Icon

  • Opens this help system
  • Search and browse topics
  • Quick reference

Split View Button:

  • On the root scene top bar
  • Opens on hover
  • Circuit Builder, Brain Monitor, vertical split, and horizontal split

Inspectors Button:

  • On the root scene top bar and the Brain Monitor tab bar
  • Opens on hover
  • Connection inspector, voxel inspector, and memory inspector
  • Voxel inspector: Live neuron inspector shows the summary above the cursor while hovering voxels in the 3D view. Live synapse inspector draws that voxel's synapses, the same arcs as Inspect, and hides cortical mapping curves while it is on. Stop Inspector, at the bottom right, turns both off.

Activity Rendering Toggle:

  • Show/hide global neural connections
  • Toggle all connection lines
  • Performance optimization

UI Scale Controls:

Plus Icon Zoom In

  • + button: Increase UI size
  • - button: Decrease UI size
  • Immediate visual feedback

Zoom Out

Windows and Panels​

Window Management​

Moving Windows:

  • Click and drag title bar
  • Position anywhere on screen
  • Windows remember positions

Resizing Windows:

  • Drag window edges (if resizable)
  • Or corners for two-axis resize
  • Some windows have fixed size

Closing Windows:

  • Click X button in title bar
  • Or press Escape key (for some windows)
  • Can reopen from menus

Window Types​

Modal Windows:

  • Block interaction with other elements
  • Must complete or cancel
  • Used for critical operations

Non-Modal Windows:

  • Float above main interface
  • Can interact with main view
  • Can have multiple open simultaneously

Panels:

  • Integrated into main interface
  • Cannot be closed individually
  • Part of main layout

Z-Order (Window Layering)​

Windows stack on top of each other:

Bring to Front:

  • Click anywhere on window
  • Automatically comes to front
  • Or use window manager functions

Behind:

  • Click different window to send current to back
  • Or close to remove from stack

Display Settings​

Access via Options → Display:

Visualization Options​

Grid Floor:

  • Show/hide reference grid in Brain Monitor
  • Helps with spatial orientation
  • On by default

Connection Lines:

  • Always show
  • Show on hover only
  • Never show
  • Affects performance

Activity Rendering:

  • Quality level (Low/Medium/High)
  • Affects visual fidelity and performance
  • Balance quality vs. speed

Transparency:

  • Transparent cortical volumes
  • See-through effects
  • Visual clarity options

Performance Options​

Frame Rate Cap:

  • Limit maximum FPS
  • Reduce power consumption
  • Smoother vs. performance trade-off

VSync:

  • Synchronize with monitor refresh
  • Reduce screen tearing
  • May increase input latency

Anti-Aliasing:

  • Smooth edges
  • Better visual quality
  • Performance impact

Accessibility Features​

Text and UI​

Large UI Scale:

  • Use larger scale settings
  • Improves readability
  • Better for vision impairment

High Contrast:

  • Dark theme provides good contrast
  • Clear text on backgrounds
  • Easily distinguishable elements

Interaction​

Keyboard Navigation:

  • Most operations have keyboard shortcuts
  • Reduces mouse dependency
  • Faster workflow

Click Targets:

  • Buttons and controls have adequate size
  • Easy to click/select
  • Touch-friendly

Workspace Layouts​

Single View​

  • One main panel showing Circuit Builder or Brain Monitor
  • Full screen real estate for one view
  • Simple and focused

Split View​

  • Two panels side-by-side or top-bottom
  • Circuit Builder + Brain Monitor
  • Best for active work

See Split View for details.

Tab System​

  • Multiple tabs in each panel
  • Switch between different regions
  • Keep multiple views accessible

Multi-Window​

  • Drag tabs out to separate windows
  • Position on multiple monitors
  • Ultimate flexibility

Customizing Your Workspace​

For Large Displays​

Recommendations:

  • Medium or Large UI scale
  • Split View with 50/50 ratio
  • Multiple tabs open
  • Horizontal split layout

For Small Displays​

Recommendations:

  • Small UI scale to maximize content
  • Single view or heavily asymmetric split
  • Minimize open windows
  • Use the top bar hover lists for navigation

For Presentations​

Recommendations:

  • Large or Very Large UI scale
  • Clean, simple layout
  • Hide unnecessary panels
  • Full screen mode (if available)

For Development​

Recommendations:

  • Medium UI scale
  • Split View for editing + monitoring
  • Multiple tabs for different regions
  • Developer options enabled

Shortcuts and Quick Actions​

UI Shortcuts​

  • F11: Full screen toggle (if available)
  • Ctrl + +: Increase UI scale
  • Ctrl + -: Decrease UI scale
  • Escape: Close current window/dialog

View Shortcuts​

  • Tab: Switch between panels
  • Ctrl + Tab: Next tab
  • Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Previous tab
  • Ctrl + W: Close current tab

(Shortcuts may vary by version)

Performance Optimization​

Improve Responsiveness​

Close Unused:

  • Close windows not in use
  • Close extra tabs
  • Minimize background processes

Reduce Visual Quality:

  • Lower activity rendering quality
  • Disable global connection lines
  • Reduce anti-aliasing

Focus on Region:

  • Open specific circuits in 3D tabs
  • Don't visualize entire large genome
  • Work on subsystems

Balance Quality and Speed​

High-End Systems:

  • Can use highest quality settings
  • Multiple windows and tabs
  • Complex visualizations

Low-End Systems:

  • Reduce UI scale slightly
  • Lower rendering quality
  • Single view workflow
  • Close unnecessary elements

Troubleshooting​

"UI is too small to read"

  • Click + button repeatedly to increase scale
  • Or use Options → Display → UI Scale
  • Consider monitor/display settings

"UI is too large, can't see everything"

  • Click - button to decrease scale
  • Adjust window positions
  • Consider using higher resolution

"Buttons are unresponsive"

  • Check if a modal window is open
  • Ensure genome is loaded
  • Try clicking again or using keyboard
  • Restart application if persistent

"Windows won't stay where I put them"

  • Some windows reset on close
  • Try leaving them open instead
  • Position may not persist between sessions

"Can't find a feature"

  • Check all toolbar buttons
  • Look in Options menu
  • Use this Guide system to search
  • Feature may be version-specific

"Interface is laggy"

  • Reduce UI scale slightly
  • Close unnecessary windows
  • Check system resources
  • Disable visual effects

Tips for Efficient UI Usage​

  1. Learn Toolbar Layout: Memorize common button positions
  2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts: Faster than mouse for many operations
  3. Optimize Scale: Find your comfortable size and stick with it
  4. Close When Done: Don't leave many windows open
  5. Organize Workspace: Position windows logically
  6. Use Dropdowns: Quick access is faster than manual navigation
  7. Practice: UI becomes second nature with use

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