There are a number of areas in psychology where an electronic spreadsheet simulator can be used to study and explore functional relationships among a number of parameters. For example, when dealing with sensation, perception, and pattern recognition, it is sometimes desirable for students to understand both the basic neurophysiology and the functional operation of various hypothetical neural circuits and networks. This paper describes how neural model simulations offer an opportunity for active student exploration of neural circuits and networks, including a way of using a spreadsheet to simulate the procedures of identifying receptor cells that are part of the neural circuit; identifying whether the effect of the receptor is excitatory or inhibitory; and determining how strong the effect is. It also describes an application for considering the process of lateral inhibition, which is thought to be responsible for such visual experiences as the contrast effect produced by putting patches of a constant shade of gray against various backgrounds differing only in brightness. Two advantages of spreadsheet program neural model simulations are noted: the cost in development time and effort is relatively small, and they are extremely versatile as compared to a special purpose software program. (THC)