1. A method for operating an artificial nervous system, comprising: allocating a first memory layout for parameters and state variables of instances of a first neuron model; allocating a second memory layout different from the first memory layout for parameters and state variables of instances of a second neuron model having a different complexity than the first neuron model; and updating the state variables for at least one instance of at least one of the first neuron model or the second neuron model when operating the artificial nervous system, wherein the first memory layout includes different memories for storing each of the parameters and the state variables of the instances of the first neuron model, and the second memory layout includes a common memory for storing both the parameters and the state variables of the instances of the second neuron model.