Access variables from parent scope in anonymous PHP function

I want to write a function that does some dirty work logging a transaction, but the anonymous function scope does not seem to register the parent scope $db and $value variables. How can I pass the variables into the closure?

Ironically, the SO tag 'closures' does not describe the PHP version of it very accurately...?

class controller
{
    function submit()
    {
        $db = new database();
        $result = $db->execute_tx(function() {
            $db->insert_model_a($value_a); // ERROR: $db is non-object
            $db->insert_model_b($value_b);
        });
    }
}

class database
{
   function execute_tx($atomic_action)
   {
        try
        { 
            $this->start();
            $atomic_action();
            $this->commit();
            // etc..
        }
        catch(...)
        { 
            $this->rollback();
            // etc..
        } 
        finally
        {
            // etc..
        }
   }

   function insert_model_a() { ... }
   function insert_model_b() { ... }
}