diff --git a/brian2/core/preferences.py b/brian2/core/preferences.py
index 4c5e34a92..db0288b69 100644
--- a/brian2/core/preferences.py
+++ b/brian2/core/preferences.py
@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@
 from brian2.units.fundamentalunits import Quantity, have_same_dimensions
 from brian2.utils.stringtools import deindent, indent
 
-__all__ = ["PreferenceError", "BrianPreference", "prefs", "brian_prefs"]
+__all__ = [
+    "PreferenceError",
+    "BrianPreference",
+    "prefs",
+    "brian_prefs",
+    "brian_configuration",
+]
 
 
 def parse_preference_name(name):
@@ -304,7 +310,7 @@ def _restore(self):
         """
         self.prefs.update(**self.backup_prefs)
 
-    def _get_one_documentation(self, basename, link_targets):
+    def _get_one_documentation(self, basename, valuefunc, link_targets):
         """
         Document a single category of preferences.
         """
@@ -323,7 +329,7 @@ def _get_one_documentation(self, basename, link_targets):
             if link_targets:
                 # Make a link target
                 s += f".. _brian-pref-{linkname}:\n\n"
-            s += f"``{name}`` = ``{pref.representor(pref.default)}``\n"
+            s += f"``{name}`` = ``{pref.representor(valuefunc(pref, name))}``\n"
             s += indent(deindent(pref.docs, docstring=True))
             s += "\n\n"
         return s
@@ -345,13 +351,45 @@ def get_documentation(self, basename=None, link_targets=True):
                     s += basename + "\n" + '"' * len(basename) + "\n\n"
                 else:
                     s += "**" + basename + "**\n\n"
-                s += self._get_one_documentation(basename, link_targets)
+                s += self._get_one_documentation(
+                    basename, lambda pref, fullname: pref.default, link_targets
+                )
             # for basename in self.pref_register:
             # s += '**' + basename + '**\n\n'
             # s += basename+'\n'+'"'*len(basename)+'\n\n'
             # s += self._get_one_documentation(basename, link_targets)
         else:
-            s += self._get_one_documentation(basename, link_targets)
+            s += self._get_one_documentation(
+                basename, lambda pref, fullname: pref.default, link_targets
+            )
+
+        return s
+
+    def get_configuration(self, basename=None):
+        """
+        Generates a string documenting the current values of all preferences
+        with the given `basename`. If no `basename` is given, all preferences
+        are documented.
+        """
+        s = ""
+        if basename is None:
+            basenames = sorted(
+                [tuple(basename.split(".")) for basename in self.pref_register]
+            )
+            for basename in basenames:
+                lev = len(basename)
+                basename = ".".join(basename)
+                if lev == 1:
+                    s += basename + "\n" + '"' * len(basename) + "\n\n"
+                else:
+                    s += "**" + basename + "**\n\n"
+                s += self._get_one_documentation(
+                    basename, lambda pref, fullname: self[fullname], False
+                )
+        else:
+            s += self._get_one_documentation(
+                basename, lambda pref, fullname: self[fullname], False
+            )
 
         return s
 
@@ -741,3 +779,10 @@ def __getitem__(self, item):
 
 
 brian_prefs = ErrorRaiser()
+
+
+def brian_configuration():
+    """
+    Return a string summarizing the current Brian preferences.
+    """
+    return prefs.get_configuration()
diff --git a/brian2/only.py b/brian2/only.py
index fb0f2d80b..5308e30e3 100644
--- a/brian2/only.py
+++ b/brian2/only.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ def restore_initial_state():
     "BrianPreference",
     "prefs",
     "brian_prefs",
+    "brian_configuration",
     "Clock",
     "EventClock",
     "defaultclock",
diff --git a/brian2/tests/test_preferences.py b/brian2/tests/test_preferences.py
index 45c17c74d..818eb6a92 100644
--- a/brian2/tests/test_preferences.py
+++ b/brian2/tests/test_preferences.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from numpy import float32, float64
 from numpy.testing import assert_equal
 
-from brian2 import amp, restore_initial_state, volt
+from brian2 import amp, brian_configuration, prefs, restore_initial_state, volt
 from brian2.core.preferences import (
     BrianGlobalPreferences,
     BrianGlobalPreferencesView,
@@ -198,6 +198,45 @@ def test_brianglobalpreferences():
     assert gp["a.b"] == 5
 
 
+@pytest.mark.codegen_independent
+def test_brian_configuration():
+    configuration = brian_configuration()
+    assert len(configuration)
+    assert "core" in configuration
+    assert "``core.default_float_dtype``" in configuration
+
+    gp = BrianGlobalPreferences()
+    gp.register_preferences(
+        "example",
+        "Example preferences",
+        value=BrianPreference(1, "Example value"),
+    )
+    example_configuration = gp.get_configuration()
+    assert "example" in example_configuration
+    assert "``example.value`` = ``1``" in example_configuration
+
+
+@pytest.mark.codegen_independent
+def test_brian_configuration_current_values():
+    original_configuration = brian_configuration()
+    try:
+        prefs["core.default_float_dtype"] = float32
+        changed_configuration = brian_configuration()
+        assert changed_configuration != original_configuration
+        assert "``core.default_float_dtype`` = ``float32``" in changed_configuration
+
+        prefs.reset_to_defaults()
+        reset_configuration = brian_configuration()
+        assert reset_configuration == original_configuration
+    finally:
+        restore_initial_state()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.codegen_independent
+def test_brian_configuration_importable():
+    assert callable(brian_configuration)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.codegen_independent
 def test_preference_name_access():
     """
diff --git a/docs_sphinx/advanced/preferences.rst b/docs_sphinx/advanced/preferences.rst
index aca48dc42..b12e86af3 100644
--- a/docs_sphinx/advanced/preferences.rst
+++ b/docs_sphinx/advanced/preferences.rst
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ work, e.g. in ipython, as it offers autocompletion and documentation.
 In ipython, ``prefs.codegen.cpp?`` would display a docstring with all
 the preferences available in the ``codegen.cpp`` category.
 
+To get a plain-text summary of the current preference values, use
+`brian_configuration`::
+
+    >>> from brian2 import brian_configuration
+    >>> print(brian_configuration())  # doctest: +SKIP
+
 Preference files
 ----------------