diff --git a/lib/csys/csys.ex b/lib/csys/csys.ex
index a54facb..013b476 100644
--- a/lib/csys/csys.ex
+++ b/lib/csys/csys.ex
@@ -12,24 +12,34 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSys do
   # predefined neuron processors
 
   def process(msg, scope) do
-    hd(elem(scope, 1)).(msg, scope)
+    proc(scope).(msg, scope)
   end
 
-  def echo(msg, {_state, _code, _syns, env}) do
-    send(env, msg)
+  def echo(msg, scope) do
+    send(env(scope), msg)
   end
 
-  def forward(msg, {_state, _code, syns, _env}) do
-    Enum.reduce(syns, false, fn s, _acc -> s.(msg); true end)
+  def forward(msg, scope) do
+    Enum.reduce(syns(scope), false, fn s, _acc -> s.(msg) end)
   end
 
-  def std_proc({:parent}, {_state, _code, _syns, env}) do
+  def std_proc({:parent}, scope) do
     syn = synapse(self(), &Function.identity/1)
-    new = neuron({[], [&std_proc/2], [syn], env})
-    send(env, {:created, new})
+    new = neuron({[], [&std_proc/2], [syn], env(scope)})
+    # send(env(scope), {:created, new})
+    echo({:created, new}, scope)
   end
 
   def std_proc(msg, scope) do
     unless forward(msg, scope), do: echo(msg, scope)
   end
+
+  # helper functions
+
+  def proc(scope), do: hd(code(scope))
+
+  def state(scope), do: elem(scope, 0)
+  def code(scope), do: elem(scope, 1)
+  def syns(scope), do: elem(scope, 2)
+  def env(scope), do: elem(scope, 3)
 end