diff --git a/csys.lisp b/csys.lisp
index 1b60291..2cfaab9 100644
--- a/csys.lisp
+++ b/csys.lisp
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
   (:use :common-lisp)
   (:local-nicknames (:actor :scopes/core/actor)
                     (:util :scopes/util))
-  (:export #:neuron #:synapse))
+  (:export #:neuron #:synapse
+           #:forward))
 
 (in-package :decons/csys)
 
@@ -14,4 +15,10 @@
 
 (defun synapse (rcvr &optional (op #'identity))
   (lambda (msg)
-    (actor:send rcvr (op msg))))
+    (actor:send rcvr (funcall op msg))))
+
+;;;; simple default / example neuron processors
+
+(defun forward (msg state syns env)
+  (dolist (s syns)
+    (funcall s msg)))
diff --git a/test-csys.lisp b/test-csys.lisp
index 68a7036..814229c 100644
--- a/test-csys.lisp
+++ b/test-csys.lisp
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@
   ))
 
 (deftest test-neuron ()
-  (let ((prb (csys:neuron #'probe 
-                          :state '(42 43)
-                          :env t:*test-suite*)))
-    (actor:send prb (actor:message 42))
-    (actor:send prb (actor:message 43))
+  (let* ((prb (csys:neuron #'probe :env t:*test-suite* :state '(42 43)))
+         (fw (csys:neuron #'csys:forward :syns (list (csys:synapse prb)))))
+    (actor:send fw (actor:message 42))
+    (actor:send fw (actor:message 43))
     (sleep 0.1)
     (actor:stop prb)
+    (actor:stop fw)
     ))