diff --git a/brian2/groups/neurongroup.py b/brian2/groups/neurongroup.py
index b8f3e7f6e..78944f6e3 100644
--- a/brian2/groups/neurongroup.py
+++ b/brian2/groups/neurongroup.py
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ def __init__(
         method_options=None,
         threshold=None,
         reset=None,
-        refractory=False,
+        refractory=None, # Updated to None instead of False
         events=None,
         namespace=None,
         dtype=None,
@@ -576,6 +576,26 @@ def __init__(
             }
         )
 
+        # Handle events
+        if events is None:
+            events = {}
+        self.events = {'spike': threshold} if threshold else {}
+        self.events.update(events)
+
+        # Handle refractory 
+        if refractory is not None:
+            if isinstance(refractory, (str, Quantity)):
+                refractory = {'spike': refractory}  
+            elif isinstance(refractory, dict):
+                for event in refractory:
+                    if event not in self.events:
+                        raise ValueError(f"Unknown event '{event}' in refractory dictionary.")
+            else:
+                raise TypeError("refractory must be a string, Quantity, or dictionary")
+        else:
+            refractory = {}
+        self._refractory = refractory
+        
         # add refractoriness
         #: The original equations as specified by the user (i.e. without
         #: the multiplied `int(not_refractory)` term for equations marked as
@@ -794,9 +814,12 @@ def _create_variables(self, user_dtype, events):
 
         # Standard variables always present
         for event in events:
-            self.variables.add_array(
-                f"_{event}space", size=self._N + 1, dtype=np.int32, constant=False
-            )
+            if event == 'spike':
+                self.variables.add_array("_spikespace", size=self._N + 1, dtype=np.int32, constant=False)
+            else:
+                eventspace_name = f"_{event.replace(' ', '_')}space"
+                self.variables.add_array(eventspace_name, size=self._N + 1, dtype=np.int32, constant=False)
+                
         # Add the special variable "i" which can be used to refer to the neuron index
         self.variables.add_arange("i", size=self._N, constant=True, read_only=True)
         # Add the clock variables
@@ -836,12 +859,48 @@ def _create_variables(self, user_dtype, events):
             else:
                 raise AssertionError(f"Unknown type of equation: {eq.eq_type}")
 
-        # Add the conditional-write attribute for variables with the
-        # "unless refractory" flag
-        if self._refractory is not False:
-            for eq in self.equations.values():
-                if eq.type == DIFFERENTIAL_EQUATION and "unless refractory" in eq.flags:
-                    not_refractory_var = self.variables["not_refractory"]
+    # refractory variable setup for spike event
+    if 'spike' in self.events:
+            self.variables.add_array('lastspike', size=self._N, dtype=float, constant=False, value=-1e100)
+            if self._refractory.get('spike', False):
+                self.variables.add_subexpression('not_refractory', 'True')
+    # For other events        
+    for event in self.events:
+            if event != 'spike' and event in self._refractory:
+                event_name = event.replace(' ', '_')
+                self.variables.add_array(f'_lastevent_{event_name}', size=self._N, dtype=float, 
+                                         constant=False, value=-1e100)
+                refr = self._refractory[event]
+                if isinstance(refr, Quantity):
+                    self.variables.add_array(f'_refractory_until_{event_name}', size=self._N, dtype=float, 
+                                             constant=False, value=-1e100)
+                    self.variables.add_subexpression(f'not_refractory_{event_name}', 
+                                                     f't >= _refractory_until_{event_name}')
+                elif isinstance(refr, str):
+                    self.variables.add_subexpression(f'not_refractory_{event_name}', f'not ({refr})')
+                    
+
+    # Events without refractory
+    for event in self.events:
+            event_name = event.replace(' ', '_')
+            if event not in self._refractory:
+                self.variables.add_subexpression(f'not_refractory_{event_name}', 'True')
+
+    if 'spike' in self.events and 'spike' in self._refractory:
+            refr = self._refractory['spike']
+            if isinstance(refr, Quantity):
+                self.variables.add_array('_refractory_until', size=self._N, dtype=float, 
+                                         constant=False, value=-1e100)
+                self.variables.add_subexpression('not_refractory', 't >= _refractory_until')
+            elif isinstance(refr, str):
+                self.variables.add_subexpression('not_refractory', f'not ({refr})')
+                
+    for eq in self.equations.values():
+          if eq.type == DIFFERENTIAL_EQUATION and "unless refractory" in eq.flags:
+             for event in self.events:
+                 event_name = event.replace(' ', '_')
+                 not_refractory_var = self.variables.get(f'not_refractory_{event_name}', None)
+                 if not_refractory_var:
                     var = self.variables[eq.varname]
                     var.set_conditional_write(not_refractory_var)