Disclosed is a digital neural processor comprising at least one neural processing element. The neural processing elements including at least one simulated dendrite and a simulated axon. Each of the simulated dendrites may include: a dendrite input capable of receiving at least one dendrite input signal and a dendrite signal propagation function capable of calculating a dendrite output signal in discrete time steps from each dendrite input signal. The signal propagation function may further include a delay parameter; a duration parameter; and an amplitude parameter. The simulated axon includes an axon input capable of receiving dendrite output signals, an axon function, capable of calculating an axon output signal from dendrite output signal(s) and an axon output capable of outputting the axon output signal.