ACCEPTED
Please predict whether this patent is acceptable.PATENT ABSTRACT: Methods and apparatus are provided for inferring and accounting for missing post-synaptic events (e.g., a post-synaptic spike that is not associated with any pre-synaptic spikes) at an artificial neuron and adjusting spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) accordingly. One example method generally includes receiving, at an artificial neuron, a plurality of pre-synaptic spikes associated with a synapse, tracking a plurality of post-synaptic spikes output by the artificial neuron, and determining at least one of the post-synaptic spikes is associated with none of the plurality of pre-synaptic spikes. According to certain aspects, determining inferring missing post-synaptic events may be accomplished by using a flag, counter, or other variable that is updated on post-synaptic firings. If this post-ghost variable changes between pre-synaptic-triggered adjustments, then the artificial nervous system can determine there was a missing post-synaptic pairing.