Adaptation to synchronization in phase-oscillator networks

We introduce an adaptation algorithm by which an ensemble of coupled oscillators with attractive and repulsive interactions is induced to adopt a prescribed synchronized state. While the performance of adaptation is controlled by measuring a macroscopic quantity, which characterizes the achieved degree of synchronization, adaptive changes are introduced at the microscopic level of the interaction network, by modifying the configuration of repulsive interactions. This scheme emulates the distinct levels of selection and mutation in biological evolution and learning. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.