A method of operating a spiking neural network having neurons coupled together with a synapse includes monitoring a timing of a presynaptic spike and monitoring a timing of a postsynaptic spike. The method also includes determining a time difference between the postsynaptic spike and the presynaptic spike. The method further includes calculating a stochastic update of a delay for the synapse based on the time difference between the postsynaptic spike and the presynaptic spike.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method of operating a spiking neural network having a plurality of neurons coupled together with at least one synapse, comprising: monitoring a timing of a presynaptic spike; monitoring a timing of a postsynaptic spike; determining a time difference between the postsynaptic spike and the presynaptic spike; and calculating a stochastic update of a delay for the at least one synapse based at least in part on the time difference. 2. The method of claim 1, in which the stochastic update is based at least in part on an evaluation of a probability function. 3. The method of claim 2, in which the probability function is based at least in part on an increase in the delay. 4. The method of claim 2, in which the probability function is based at least in part on a decrease in the delay. 5. The method of claim 2, in which at least one region of a probability distribution is parameterized. 6. The method of claim 2, in which the probability function is piecewise linear. 7. The method of claim 1, in which the update is based at least in part on a look up table. 8. The method of claim 1, in which the update is based at least in part on a calculation. 9. An apparatus for operating a spiking neural network having a plurality of neurons coupled together with at least one synapse, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured: to monitor a timing of a presynaptic spike; to monitor a timing of a postsynaptic spike; to determine a time difference between the postsynaptic spike and the presynaptic spike; and to calculate a stochastic update of a delay for the at least one synapse based at least in part on the time difference. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the at least one processor is configured to calculate the stochastic update based at least in part on an evaluation of a probability function. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the probability function is based at least in part on an increase in the delay. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the probability function is based at least in part on a decrease in the delay. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, in which at least one region of a probability distribution is parameterized. 14. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the probability function is piecewise linear. 15. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the at least one processor is configured to calculate the stochastic update based at least in part on a look up table. 16. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the at least one processor is configured to calculate the stochastic update based at least in part on a calculation. 17. An apparatus for operating a spiking neural network having a plurality of neurons coupled together with at least one synapse, comprising: means for monitoring a timing of a presynaptic spike; means for monitoring a timing of a postsynaptic spike; means for determining a time difference between the postsynaptic spike and the presynaptic spike; and means for calculating a stochastic update of a delay for the at least one synapse based at least in part on the time difference. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the means for calculating the stochastic update calculates the stochastic update based at least in part on an evaluation of a probability function. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, in which the probability function is based at least in part on an increase in the delay. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, in which the probability function is based at least in part on a decrease in the delay. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, in which at least one region of a probability distribution is parameterized. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, in which the probability function is piecewise linear. 23. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the means for calculating the stochastic update calculates the stochastic update based at least in part on a look up table. 24. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the means for calculating the stochastic update calculates the stochastic update based at least in part on a calculation. 25. A computer program product for operating a spiking neural network having a plurality of neurons coupled together with at least one synapse, comprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium have encoded thereon program code, the program code comprising: program code to monitor a timing of a presynaptic spike; program code to monitor a timing of a postsynaptic spike; program code to determine a time difference between the postsynaptic spike and the presynaptic spike; and program code to calculate a stochastic update of a delay for the at least one synapse based at least in part on the time difference.