diff --git a/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb b/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb
index dd03e0a0..2363394c 100644
--- a/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb
@@ -2,4 +2,39 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe Synapse, type: :model do
   pending "add some examples to (or delete) #{__FILE__}"
+  pending "validate that desc can't be nil - important for javascript"
+  it { is_expected.to belong_to :user }
+  it { is_expected.to belong_to :topic1 }
+  it { is_expected.to belong_to :topic2 }
+  it { is_expected.to have_many :maps }
+  it { is_expected.to have_many :mappings }
+
+  context 'permissions' do
+    let(:owner) { create :user }
+    let(:other_user) { create :user }
+    let(:synapse) { create :synapse, user: owner, permission: :commons }
+    let(:private_synapse) { create :synapse, user: owner, permission: :private }
+    let(:public_synapse) { create :synapse, user: owner, permission: :public }
+
+    it 'prevents deletion by non-owner' do
+      expect(synapse.authorize_to_delete(other_user)).to eq false
+      expect(synapse.authorize_to_delete(owner)).to eq synapse
+    end
+
+    it 'prevents visibility if private' do
+      expect(synapse.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq true
+      expect(synapse.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq true
+      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq true
+      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq false
+    end
+
+    it 'only allows editing if commons or owned' do
+      expect(synapse.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq true
+      expect(synapse.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq true
+      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
+      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq true
+      expect(public_synapse.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
+      expect(public_synapse.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq true
+    end
+  end
 end