diff --git a/multiarea_model/default_params.py b/multiarea_model/default_params.py
index f1d85dac7656aec5be8dbcfaf8ad854be95b6c33..bbe72df88b54484b920e5030468c77cd076ea747 100644
--- a/multiarea_model/default_params.py
+++ b/multiarea_model/default_params.py
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ theory_params = {'neuron_params': neuron_params,
                  # The simulation time of the mean-field theory integration
                  'T': 50.,
                  # The time step of the mean-field theory integration
-                 'dt': 0.1,
+                 'dt': 0.01,
                  # Time interval for recording the trajectory of the mean-field calcuation
                  # If None, then the interval is set to dt
                  'rec_interval': None}
diff --git a/multiarea_model/theory.py b/multiarea_model/theory.py
index ba9ec58012b6e41fe75e84fe5feab469f2dfb321..c00e54ca6a5e01ffb0664428a6d91762f4eeb428 100644
--- a/multiarea_model/theory.py
+++ b/multiarea_model/theory.py
@@ -78,13 +78,14 @@ class Theory:
                               'use_wfr': False,
                               'print_time': False,
                               'overwrite_files': True})
+
+        nest.SetDefaults('siegert_neuron', self.NP)
         # create neurons for external drive
         drive = nest.Create(
             'siegert_neuron', 1, params={'rate': rate_ext, 'mean': rate_ext})
 
         # create neurons representing populations
-        neurons = nest.Create(
-            'siegert_neuron', dim, params=self.NP)
+        neurons = nest.Create('siegert_neuron', dim)
         # external drive
         syn_dict = {'drift_factor': tau * np.array([K[:, -1] * J[:, -1]]).transpose(),
                     'diffusion_factor': tau * np.array([K[:, -1] * J[:, -1]**2]).transpose(),
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ class Theory:
         interval = self.params['rec_interval']
         if interval is None:
             interval = dt
-            
+
         multimeter = nest.Create('multimeter', params={'record_from': ['rate'],
                                                        'interval': interval,
                                                        'to_screen': False,