diff --git a/bindsnet/encoding/encoders.py b/bindsnet/encoding/encoders.py
index e17a4f22..111e939f 100644
--- a/bindsnet/encoding/encoders.py
+++ b/bindsnet/encoding/encoders.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def __init__(self, time: int, dt: float = 1.0, **kwargs):
 
 
 class PoissonEncoder(Encoder):
-    def __init__(self, time: int, dt: float = 1.0, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, time: int, dt: float = 1.0, approx: bool = False, **kwargs):
         # language=rst
         """
         Creates a callable PoissonEncoder which encodes as defined in
@@ -94,8 +94,10 @@ def __init__(self, time: int, dt: float = 1.0, **kwargs):
 
         :param time: Length of Poisson spike train per input variable.
         :param dt: Simulation time step.
+        :param approx: Bool: use alternate faster, less accurate computation.
+
         """
-        super().__init__(time, dt=dt, **kwargs)
+        super().__init__(time, dt=dt, approx=approx, **kwargs)
 
         self.enc = encodings.poisson
 
diff --git a/bindsnet/encoding/encodings.py b/bindsnet/encoding/encodings.py
index 18809430..63ae10bf 100644
--- a/bindsnet/encoding/encodings.py
+++ b/bindsnet/encoding/encodings.py
@@ -98,7 +98,12 @@ def bernoulli(
 
 
 def poisson(
-    datum: torch.Tensor, time: int, dt: float = 1.0, device="cpu", **kwargs
+    datum: torch.Tensor,
+    time: int,
+    dt: float = 1.0,
+    device="cpu",
+    approx=False,
+    **kwargs
 ) -> torch.Tensor:
     # language=rst
     """
@@ -110,6 +115,8 @@ def poisson(
     :param datum: Tensor of shape ``[n_1, ..., n_k]``.
     :param time: Length of Poisson spike train per input variable.
     :param dt: Simulation time step.
+    :param device: target destination of poisson spikes.
+    :param approx: Bool: use alternate faster, less accurate computation.
     :return: Tensor of shape ``[time, n_1, ..., n_k]`` of Poisson-distributed spikes.
     """
     assert (datum >= 0).all(), "Inputs must be non-negative"
@@ -119,27 +126,35 @@ def poisson(
     datum = datum.flatten()
     time = int(time / dt)
 
-    # Compute firing rates in seconds as function of data intensity,
-    # accounting for simulation time step.
-    rate = torch.zeros(size, device=device)
-    rate[datum != 0] = 1 / datum[datum != 0] * (1000 / dt)
+    if approx:
+        # random normal power awful approximation
+        x = torch.randn((time, size), device=device).abs()
+        x = torch.pow(x, (datum * 0.11 + 5) / 50)
+        y = torch.tensor(x < 0.6, dtype=torch.bool, device=device)
 
-    # Create Poisson distribution and sample inter-spike intervals
-    # (incrementing by 1 to avoid zero intervals).
-    dist = torch.distributions.Poisson(rate=rate)
-    intervals = dist.sample(sample_shape=torch.Size([time + 1]))
-    intervals[:, datum != 0] += (intervals[:, datum != 0] == 0).float()
-
-    # Calculate spike times by cumulatively summing over time dimension.
-    times = torch.cumsum(intervals, dim=0).long()
-    times[times >= time + 1] = 0
-
-    # Create tensor of spikes.
-    spikes = torch.zeros(time + 1, size, device=device).byte()
-    spikes[times, torch.arange(size)] = 1
-    spikes = spikes[1:]
-
-    return spikes.view(time, *shape)
+        return y.view(time, *shape).byte()
+    else:
+        # Compute firing rates in seconds as function of data intensity,
+        # accounting for simulation time step.
+        rate = torch.zeros(size, device=device)
+        rate[datum != 0] = 1 / datum[datum != 0] * (1000 / dt)
+
+        # Create Poisson distribution and sample inter-spike intervals
+        # (incrementing by 1 to avoid zero intervals).
+        dist = torch.distributions.Poisson(rate=rate)
+        intervals = dist.sample(sample_shape=torch.Size([time + 1]))
+        intervals[:, datum != 0] += (intervals[:, datum != 0] == 0).float()
+
+        # Calculate spike times by cumulatively summing over time dimension.
+        times = torch.cumsum(intervals, dim=0).long()
+        times[times >= time + 1] = 0
+
+        # Create tensor of spikes.
+        spikes = torch.zeros(time + 1, size, device=device).byte()
+        spikes[times, torch.arange(size)] = 1
+        spikes = spikes[1:]
+
+        return spikes.view(time, *shape)
 
 
 def rank_order(
diff --git a/bindsnet/learning/learning.py b/bindsnet/learning/learning.py
index 62ffb3b5..a204639b 100644
--- a/bindsnet/learning/learning.py
+++ b/bindsnet/learning/learning.py
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ def __init__(
         elif isinstance(nu, float) or isinstance(nu, int):
             nu = [nu, nu]
 
-        self.nu = nu
+        self.nu = torch.zeros(2, dtype=torch.float)
+        self.nu[0] = nu[0]
+        self.nu[1] = nu[1]
 
         # Parameter update reduction across minibatch dimension.
         if reduction is None:
@@ -64,7 +66,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.reduction = reduction
 
         # Weight decay.
-        self.weight_decay = weight_decay
+        self.weight_decay = 1.0 - weight_decay
 
     def update(self) -> None:
         # language=rst
@@ -73,7 +75,7 @@ def update(self) -> None:
         """
         # Implement weight decay.
         if self.weight_decay:
-            self.connection.w -= self.weight_decay * self.connection.w
+            self.connection.w *= self.weight_decay
 
         # Bound weights.
         if (
@@ -177,20 +179,21 @@ def _connection_update(self, **kwargs) -> None:
         """
         batch_size = self.source.batch_size
 
-        source_s = self.source.s.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(2).float()
-        source_x = self.source.x.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(2)
-        target_s = self.target.s.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(1).float()
-        target_x = self.target.x.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(1)
-
         # Pre-synaptic update.
         if self.nu[0]:
-            update = self.reduction(torch.bmm(source_s, target_x), dim=0)
-            self.connection.w -= self.nu[0] * update
+            source_s = self.source.s.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(2).float()
+            target_x = self.target.x.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(1) * self.nu[0]
+            self.connection.w -= self.reduction(torch.bmm(source_s, target_x), dim=0)
+            del source_s, target_x
 
         # Post-synaptic update.
         if self.nu[1]:
-            update = self.reduction(torch.bmm(source_x, target_s), dim=0)
-            self.connection.w += self.nu[1] * update
+            target_s = (
+                self.target.s.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(1).float() * self.nu[1]
+            )
+            source_x = self.source.x.view(batch_size, -1).unsqueeze(2)
+            self.connection.w += self.reduction(torch.bmm(source_x, target_s), dim=0)
+            del source_x, target_s
 
         super().update()
 
diff --git a/bindsnet/network/nodes.py b/bindsnet/network/nodes.py
index 5a413912..6aa65aa3 100644
--- a/bindsnet/network/nodes.py
+++ b/bindsnet/network/nodes.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def forward(self, x: torch.Tensor) -> None:
             if self.traces_additive:
                 self.x += self.trace_scale * self.s.float()
             else:
-                self.x.masked_fill_(self.s != 0, 1)
+                self.x.masked_fill_(self.s, 1)
 
         if self.sum_input:
             # Add current input to running sum.
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def compute_decays(self, dt) -> None:
         """
         Abstract base class method for setting decays.
         """
-        self.dt = dt
+        self.dt = torch.tensor(dt)
         if self.traces:
             self.trace_decay = torch.exp(
                 -self.dt / self.tc_trace
@@ -560,6 +560,125 @@ def set_batch_size(self, batch_size) -> None:
         self.refrac_count = torch.zeros_like(self.v, device=self.refrac_count.device)
 
 
+class BoostedLIFNodes(Nodes):
+    # Same as LIFNodes, faster: no rest, no reset, no lbound
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        n: Optional[int] = None,
+        shape: Optional[Iterable[int]] = None,
+        traces: bool = False,
+        traces_additive: bool = False,
+        tc_trace: Union[float, torch.Tensor] = 20.0,
+        trace_scale: Union[float, torch.Tensor] = 1.0,
+        sum_input: bool = False,
+        thresh: Union[float, torch.Tensor] = 13.0,
+        refrac: Union[int, torch.Tensor] = 5,
+        tc_decay: Union[float, torch.Tensor] = 100.0,
+        **kwargs,
+    ) -> None:
+        # language=rst
+        """
+        Instantiates a layer of LIF neurons.
+
+        :param n: The number of neurons in the layer.
+        :param shape: The dimensionality of the layer.
+        :param traces: Whether to record spike traces.
+        :param traces_additive: Whether to record spike traces additively.
+        :param tc_trace: Time constant of spike trace decay.
+        :param trace_scale: Scaling factor for spike trace.
+        :param sum_input: Whether to sum all inputs.
+        :param thresh: Spike threshold voltage.
+        :param reset: Post-spike reset voltage.
+        :param refrac: Refractory (non-firing) period of the neuron.
+        :param tc_decay: Time constant of neuron voltage decay.
+        """
+        super().__init__(
+            n=n,
+            shape=shape,
+            traces=traces,
+            traces_additive=traces_additive,
+            tc_trace=tc_trace,
+            trace_scale=trace_scale,
+            sum_input=sum_input,
+        )
+
+        self.register_buffer(
+            "thresh", torch.tensor(thresh, dtype=torch.float)
+        )  # Spike threshold voltage.
+        self.register_buffer(
+            "refrac", torch.tensor(refrac)
+        )  # Post-spike refractory period.
+        self.register_buffer(
+            "tc_decay", torch.tensor(tc_decay, dtype=torch.float)
+        )  # Time constant of neuron voltage decay.
+        self.register_buffer(
+            "decay", torch.zeros(*self.shape)
+        )  # Set in compute_decays.
+        self.register_buffer("v", torch.FloatTensor())  # Neuron voltages.
+        self.register_buffer(
+            "refrac_count", torch.tensor(0)
+        )  # Refractory period counters.
+
+    def forward(self, x: torch.Tensor) -> None:
+        # language=rst
+        """
+        Runs a single simulation step.
+
+        :param x: Inputs to the layer.
+        """
+        # Decay voltages.
+        self.v *= self.decay
+
+        # Integrate inputs.
+        if x is not None:
+            x.masked_fill_(self.refrac_count > 0, 0.0)
+
+        # Decrement refractory counters.
+        self.refrac_count -= self.dt
+
+        if x is not None:
+            self.v += x
+
+        # Check for spiking neurons.
+        self.s = self.v >= self.thresh
+
+        # Refractoriness and voltage reset.
+        self.refrac_count.masked_fill_(self.s, self.refrac)
+        self.v.masked_fill_(self.s, 0)
+
+        super().forward(x)
+
+    def reset_state_variables(self) -> None:
+        # language=rst
+        """
+        Resets relevant state variables.
+        """
+        super().reset_state_variables()
+        self.v.fill_(0)  # Neuron voltages.
+        self.refrac_count.zero_()  # Refractory period counters.
+
+    def compute_decays(self, dt) -> None:
+        # language=rst
+        """
+        Sets the relevant decays.
+        """
+        super().compute_decays(dt=dt)
+        self.decay = torch.exp(
+            -self.dt / self.tc_decay
+        )  # Neuron voltage decay (per timestep).
+
+    def set_batch_size(self, batch_size) -> None:
+        # language=rst
+        """
+        Sets mini-batch size. Called when layer is added to a network.
+
+        :param batch_size: Mini-batch size.
+        """
+        super().set_batch_size(batch_size=batch_size)
+        self.v = torch.zeros(batch_size, *self.shape, device=self.v.device)
+        self.refrac_count = torch.zeros_like(self.v, device=self.refrac_count.device)
+
+
 class CurrentLIFNodes(Nodes):
     # language=rst
     """
diff --git a/bindsnet/network/topology.py b/bindsnet/network/topology.py
index 2432011f..478a8280 100644
--- a/bindsnet/network/topology.py
+++ b/bindsnet/network/topology.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.source = source
         self.target = target
 
-        self.nu = nu
+        # self.nu = nu
         self.weight_decay = weight_decay
         self.reduction = reduction
 
@@ -163,7 +163,12 @@ def __init__(
                 w = torch.clamp(w, self.wmin, self.wmax)
 
         self.w = Parameter(w, requires_grad=False)
-        self.b = Parameter(kwargs.get("b", torch.zeros(target.n)), requires_grad=False)
+
+        b = kwargs.get("b", None)
+        if b is not None:
+            self.b = Parameter(b, requires_grad=False)
+        else:
+            self.b = None
 
     def compute(self, s: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
         # language=rst
@@ -175,7 +180,10 @@ def compute(self, s: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
                  decaying spike activation).
         """
         # Compute multiplication of spike activations by weights and add bias.
-        post = s.float().view(s.size(0), -1) @ self.w + self.b
+        if self.b is None:
+            post = s.view(s.size(0), -1).float() @ self.w
+        else:
+            post = s.view(s.size(0), -1).float() @ self.w + self.b
         return post.view(s.size(0), *self.target.shape)
 
     def update(self, **kwargs) -> None: