We proposed a pulse-type hardware neuron model. It could reproduce simple excitations, beating and bursting discharges as well as an action potential with a plateau potential observed in living membranes. The model exhibited one of these dynamics depending on parameter values of the model's circuit. They include resistance, capacitance and externally injected DC current intensity. We studied the model's dynamics based on hardware experiments and mathematical analyses. Our results showed that two inward currents introduced into the model and differences in their operating time scales determined dynamics of the model. In particular, we illustrated a mechanism of the bursting discharges generation in terms of bifurcation theory and time-dependent changes in the form of instantaneous current-voltage characteristics of the model. Copyright © 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.