diff --git a/core/message.lisp b/core/message.lisp
index 6a8faad..62bfdda 100644
--- a/core/message.lisp
+++ b/core/message.lisp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
                     (:shape :scopes/shape)
                     (:util :scopes/util))
   (:export #:message-meta #:message #:create
-           #:action-key #:object-key))
+           #:action #:addr #:categ #:domain))
 
 (in-package :scopes/core/message)
 
@@ -29,11 +29,17 @@
 (defmethod actor:content ((msg message))
   (list (shape:head-plist msg) (shape:data msg)))
 
-(defun action-key (msg)
+(defun action (msg)
   (let ((head (shape:head msg)))
     (list (car head) (cadr head))))
 
-(defun object-key (msg)
+(defun addr (msg)
   (let ((head (shape:head msg)))
     (cons (car head) (cddr head))))
 
+(defun categ (msg)
+  (let ((head (shape:head msg)))
+    (list (car head) (caddr head))))
+
+(defun domain (msg)
+  (car (shape:head msg)))
diff --git a/csys/csys.lisp b/csys/csys.lisp
index 73d29b8..77bfe57 100644
--- a/csys/csys.lisp
+++ b/csys/csys.lisp
@@ -18,29 +18,38 @@
 ;;;; scope: information a neuron has access to
 
 (defclass scope ()
-  ((value :reader value :initarg :value :initform 0)
-   (stage :reader stage :initform :initial)
-   (syns :reader syns :initform nil)
+  ((value :accessor value :initarg :value :initform 0)
+   (params :accessor params :initarg :params :initform nil)
+   (categ :accessor categ :initarg :categ :initform '(:csys :c00))
+   (stage :accessor stage :initform :initial)
+   (proc :accessor proc :initarg :proc :initform #'std-proc)
    (program :reader program :initarg :program :initform nil)
    (actions :reader actions :initarg :actions :initform nil)
+   (syns :accessor syns :initform nil)
    (environ :reader environ :initarg :environ)))
 
 (defun scope (&optional (program #'std-proc) &rest args)
   (apply #'make-instance 'scope :program program args))
 
+(defun reset-scope (scope &rest args)
+  (apply #'scope (program scope) :environ (environ scope) args))
+
 ;;;; neurons (= async tasks) and synapses (= connections)
 
 (defun neuron (scope)
-  (actor:create 
-    (lambda (msg) (funcall msg scope))))
+  (actor:create (process scope)))
 
 (defun synapse (rcvr &optional (op #'identity))
   (lambda (msg)
     (actor:send rcvr (funcall op msg))))
 
 (defun update (scope)
-  (actor:become 
-    (lambda (msg) (funcall msg scope))))
+  (actor:become (process scope)))
+
+;;;; message handlers, proc steps
+
+(defun process (scope)
+  (lambda (msg) (funcall (proc scope) msg scope)))
 
 (defun std-proc (msg scope)
   ;(util:lgi msg state syns env)
@@ -49,29 +58,39 @@
     (forward nmsg (syns nscope))
     (update nscope)))
 
-
-;;;; effector procs for pseudo-neurons embedded in environment
+(defun create (msg scope)
+  (let ((new (neuron (reset scope))))
+    (notify-created msg new scope)))
 
 (defun do-log (msg scope)
   (util:lgi msg))
 
-;;;; helper / utility funtions
+(defun notify (msg scope)
+  (actor:send (environ scope) msg))
 
 (defun forward (msg syns)
   (dolist (s syns) 
     (funcall s msg)))
 
 (defun handle-action (msg scope &key (default #'no-op))
-  (let* ((key (message:action-key msg))
+  (let* ((key (message:action msg))
          ;(act (select-action msg state default))
          (act (gethash key (actions scope) default)))
     (funcall act msg scope)))
 
+(defun notify-created (msg new scope)
+  (let* ((head (list (car (shape:head msg)) :created))
+         (data (list :new new :old actor:*self*)) ; todo: update existing data
+         (msg1 (message:create head :data data))) 
+    (notify msg1 scope))
+  )
+
 ;;;; predefined neuron actions
 
 (defun no-op (msg scope)
   (list msg scope))
 
 (defun remember (msg scope)
+  (setf (value scope) (shape:data-value msg :value))
   ;(list msg (make-neuron-state (shape:data msg) syns))
-  (list msg (shape:data msg) syns))
+  (list msg scope))
diff --git a/test/test-csys.lisp b/test/test-csys.lisp
index e38e095..2148b7d 100644
--- a/test/test-csys.lisp
+++ b/test/test-csys.lisp
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@
     )
 
 (deftest x-test-init ()
-    (setup-test-init)
     (csys:send-message '(:csys :sensor :init :zero) '(:std :s1))
     (csys:send-message '(:csys :sensor :init :zero) '(:std :s2))
     (sleep 0.1)