diff --git a/csys/csys.lisp b/csys/csys.lisp
index 409b170..8cbf0d3 100644
--- a/csys/csys.lisp
+++ b/csys/csys.lisp
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@
                     (:shape :scopes/shape)
                     (:util :scopes/util)
                     (:alx :alexandria))
-  (:export #:environment #:*environment* #:actions #:set-action
-           #:init-zero
+  (:export #:environment #:*environment*
+           #:init
            #:send #:send-message
            #:neuron #:synapse
-           #:std-proc))
+           #:create-neuron #:update-neuron))
 
 (in-package :scopes/csys)
 
@@ -27,16 +27,10 @@
 
 (defvar *environment* (make-instance 'environment))
 
-(defun action (env key &optional default)
-  (gethash key (actions env) default))
-
-(defun set-action (env key act)
-  (setf (gethash key (actions env)) act))
-
 ;;;; sensors: automatically created actors (neuron), addressable via message head
 
-(defun init-zero (probe)
-  (set-action *environment* :sensor #'create-sensor)
+(defun init (probe)
+  (setf (gethash :sensor (actions *environment*)) #'create-sensor)
   (let ((zero (actor:create (neuron #'std-proc 0 (list (synapse probe))))))
     (setf (gethash '(:init :zero) (sensors *environment*)) (list zero))))
 
@@ -52,7 +46,7 @@
 (defun find-sensors (msg)
   (let* ((key (cddr (shape:head msg)))
          (sns (gethash key (sensors *environment*))))
-    (util:lgi key sns)
+    ;(util:lgi key sns)
     sns))
 
 ;;;; neurons (= behavior factories) and synapses (connection factories)
@@ -65,10 +59,17 @@
   (lambda (msg)
     (actor:send rcvr (funcall op msg))))
 
+(defun make-neuron (syn-target &key (proc #'std-proc) state 
+                               (syn-op #'identity) (env *environment*))
+  (actor:create (neuron proc state (list (synapse syn-target syn-op)) env)))
+
+(defun update-neuron (proc state syns &optional (env *environment*))
+  (actor:become (neuron proc state syns env)))
+
 ;;;; predefined neuron processors and helper / utility funtions
 
 (defun std-proc (msg state syns env)
-  (util:lgi msg state)
+  ;(util:lgi msg state)
   (destructuring-bind (nmsg nst syns) 
         (handle-action msg state syns env :default #'remember)
     (forward nmsg syns)
@@ -78,18 +79,15 @@
   (dolist (s syns) 
     (funcall s msg)))
 
-(defun handle-action (msg state syns env &key default)
+(defun handle-action (msg state syns env &key (default #'no-op))
   (let* ((key (shape:head-value msg :action))
-         (act (action env key default)))
-    (funcall act msg state syns env)
-    ;(or (and act (funcall act msg state syns env))
-    ;(list msg state syns)))
-))
+         (act (gethash key (actions env) default)))
+    (funcall act msg state syns env)))
 
 ;;;; predefined neuron actions
 
 (defun no-op (msg state syns env)
-  (list msg (shape:data msg) syns))
+  (list msg state syns))
 
 (defun remember (msg state syns env)
   (list msg (shape:data msg) syns))
diff --git a/test/test-csys.lisp b/test/test-csys.lisp
index 70be216..2d10dbd 100644
--- a/test/test-csys.lisp
+++ b/test/test-csys.lisp
@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@
 (defun probe (msg state syns env)
   (let ((t:*test-suite* (test-suite env))
         (val (shape:data msg)))
+    (util:lgi msg state)
     (unless (consp val)
       (let ((nst (in-seq val state :remove t)))
-        (actor:become (csys:neuron #'probe nst syns env))))))
+        (csys:update-neuron #'probe nst syns env)))))
 
 (defvar *probe* nil)
 
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@
       (t:show-result))))
 
 (deftest test-init ()
-  (csys:init-zero *probe*)
+  (csys:init *probe*)
   (csys:send-message '(:csys :sensor :init :zero) '(:std :s1))
   (csys:send-message '(:csys :sensor :init :zero) '(:std :s2))
   (sleep 0.1)