We show that a network of nonidentical nodes, with excitable dynamics, pulse-coupled, with coupling delays depending on the Euclidean distance between nodes, is able to adapt the topology of its connections to obtain spike frequency synchronization. The adapted network exhibits remarkable properties: sparse, anticluster, necessary presence of a minimum of inhibitory nodes, predominance of connections from inhibitory nodes over those from excitatory nodes, and finally spontaneous spatial structuring of the inhibitory projections: the furthest are the most intense. In a second step, we discuss the possible implications of our findings to neural systems.

• Received 27 March 2023
• Accepted 1 September 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.108.034211