diff --git a/scopes/core/core.py b/scopes/core/core.py
index 107a42d..d7be117 100644
--- a/scopes/core/core.py
+++ b/scopes/core/core.py
@@ -26,6 +26,22 @@ type Handler = Callable[[Message, Scope],
 type Handlers = Handler | None | list[Handlers]
 type Actions = dict[Symbol, Handlers]
 
+def neuron(scope: Scope) -> Mailbox:
+    async def process(msg: Message) -> actor.Behavior | None:
+        nonlocal scope
+        scope = await scope.proc(msg, scope) or scope
+        return process
+    return actor.create(process)
+
+def synapse(rcvr: Mailbox, op: SynOp = lambda x: x) -> Syn:
+    async def syn(msg: Message) -> None:
+        # op = update_op(msg) (=> return?)
+        # rv = check_return(msg) => return rv
+        msg_new = op(msg)
+        if msg_new is not None:
+            await rcvr.put(msg_new)
+    return syn
+
 env_dummy: Mailbox = asyncio.Queue()
 
 def notify() -> Handler:
@@ -58,22 +74,6 @@ def gen_program(spec: ProgramSpec, default: Proc = gen_proc({})) -> Program:
         return proc
     return program
 
-def neuron(scope: Scope) -> Mailbox:
-    async def process(msg: Message) -> actor.Behavior | None:
-        nonlocal scope
-        scope = await scope.proc(msg, scope) or scope
-        return process
-    return actor.create(process)
-
-def synapse(rcvr: Mailbox, op: SynOp = lambda x: x) -> Syn:
-    async def syn(msg: Message) -> None:
-        # op = update_op(msg) (=> return?)
-        # rv = check_return(msg) => return rv
-        msg_new = op(msg)
-        if msg_new is not None:
-            await rcvr.put(msg_new)
-    return syn
-
 @dataclass
 class Scope:
 
@@ -127,9 +127,8 @@ def basic_actions() -> Actions:
 
 # predefined specialized procs
 
-def std_proc(actions: Actions | None = None, finalize=forward(), **kw) -> Proc:
+def std_proc(actions: Actions | None = None, finalize=forward(), **more) -> Proc:
     if actions is None:
-        act_add = dict((k(key), val) for key, val in kw.items())
-        actions = basic_actions() | act_add
+        actions = basic_actions() | util.keyword_dict(more)
     return gen_proc(actions, finalize=finalize)
 
diff --git a/scopes/util.py b/scopes/util.py
index f0bc861..f08e008 100644
--- a/scopes/util.py
+++ b/scopes/util.py
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ class Symbols:
 
 keywords = Symbols()
 
+def keyword_dict(d):
+    return dict((keywords(key), val) for key, val in d.items())
+
 # list / iterable utilities
 
 def flatten(*it, ignore_none=False):
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index f2b6ee1..c085f8c 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from scopes.util import keywords as k, flatten
+from scopes.util import keywords as k, keyword_dict, flatten
 
 def test_keywords():
     assert k.dummy is k.dummy
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ def test_keywords():
     assert getattr(k, "abcd"[-2:]) is k.cd
     assert k('dummy') is k.dummy
     assert k('new') is k('new')
+    assert keyword_dict(dict(one=1, two=2)) == {k.one: 1, k.two: 2}
 
 def test_flatten():
     lst = (1, (None, 2), (3, (4, 5)))