An Introduction To Natural Computation

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the computational material that forms the underpinnings of the currently evolving set of brain models. It is now clear that the brain is unlikely to be understood without recourse to computational theories. The theme of An Introduction to Natural Computation is that ideas from diverse areas such as neuroscience, information theory, and optimization theory have recently been extended in ways that make them useful for describing the brains programs. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the computational material that forms the underpinnings of the currently evolving set of brain models. It stresses the broad spectrum of learning models—ranging from neural network learning through reinforcement learning to genetic learning—and situates the various models in their appropriate neural context. To write about models of the brain before the brain is fully understood is a delicate matter. Very detailed models of the neural circuitry risk losing track of the task the brain is trying to solve. At the other extreme, models that represent cognitive constructs can be so abstract that they lose all relationship to neurobiology. An Introduction to Natural Computation takes the middle ground and stresses the computational task while staying near the neurobiology.

A survey of computational methods for understanding, generating, and manipulating human language, which offers a synthesis of classical representations and algorithms with contemporary machine learning techniques. This textbook provides a technical perspective on natural language processing—methods for building computer software that understands, generates, and manipulates human language. It emphasizes contemporary data-driven approaches, focusing on techniques from supervised and unsupervised machine learning. The first section establishes a foundation in machine learning by building a set of tools that will be used throughout the book and applying them to word-based textual analysis. The second section introduces structured representations of language, including sequences, trees, and graphs. The third section explores different approaches to the representation and analysis of linguistic meaning, ranging from formal logic to neural word embeddings. The final section offers chapter-length treatments of three transformative applications of natural language processing: information extraction, machine translation, and text generation. End-of-chapter exercises include both paper-and-pencil analysis and software implementation. The text synthesizes and distills a broad and diverse research literature, linking contemporary machine learning techniques with the field's linguistic and computational foundations. It is suitable for use in advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses and as a reference for software engineers and data scientists. Readers should have a background in computer programming and college-level mathematics. After mastering the material presented, students will have the technical skill to build and analyze novel natural language processing systems and to understand the latest research in the field.

The first complete overview of evolutionary computing, the collective name for a range of problem-solving techniques based on principles of biological evolution, such as natural selection and genetic inheritance. The text is aimed directly at lecturers and graduate and undergraduate students. It is also meant for those who wish to apply evolutionary computing to a particular problem or within a given application area. The book contains quick-reference information on the current state-of-the-art in a wide range of related topics, so it is of interest not just to evolutionary computing specialists but to researchers working in other fields.

Designed for the MIT course, "Natural Computation, this extensive book of readings combines mathematics, artificial intelligence, computer science, experimental psychology, and neurophysiology in studying perception. Mathematics is emphasized for making perceptual inferences and the spectrum of mathematical techniques used is very broad. While the more than thirty readings focus primarily on vision, they also encompass the study of sound perception and the interpretation and application of forces including movement.Each article is a self contained example of how a perceptual problem may be tackled and solved. For example, what makes wood look like wood not like stone, sand, or grass? How can we represent three dimensional shapes when the same shape is rarely seen in exactly the same way? Each of the five sections is preceded by an introduction and the book concludes with problem sets.Whitman A. Richards is Professor in the Brain and Cognitive Science Department at MIT. A Bradford Book.

Computational complexity is one of the most beautiful fields of modern mathematics, and it is increasingly relevant to other sciences ranging from physics to biology. But this beauty is often buried underneath layers of unnecessary formalism, and exciting recent results like interactive proofs, phase transitions, and quantum computing are usually considered too advanced for the typical student. This book bridges these gaps by explaining the deep ideas of theoretical computer science in a clear and enjoyable fashion, making them accessible to non-computer scientists and to computer scientists who finally want to appreciate their field from a new point of view. The authors start with a lucid and playful explanation of the P vs. NP problem, explaining why it is so fundamental, and so hard to resolve. They then lead the reader through the complexity of mazes and games; optimization in theory and practice; randomized algorithms, interactive proofs, and pseudorandomness; Markov chains and phase transitions; and the outer reaches of quantum computing. At every turn, they use a minimum of formalism, providing explanations that are both deep and accessible. The book is intended for graduate and undergraduate students, scientists from other areas who have long wanted to understand this subject, and experts who want to fall in love with this field all over again.

The authors stress the relative simplicity, efficiency, flexibility of use, and suitability of various approaches used to solve difficult optimization problems. The authors are experienced, interdisciplinary lecturers and researchers and in their explanations they demonstrate many shared foundational concepts among the key methodologies. This textbook is a suitable introduction for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and professionals in computer science, engineering, and logistics.

Brain and Nature-Inspired Learning, Computation and Recognition presents a systematic analysis of neural networks, natural computing, machine learning and compression, algorithms and applications inspired by the brain and biological mechanisms found in nature. Sections cover new developments and main applications, algorithms and simulations. Developments in brain and nature-inspired learning have promoted interest in image processing, clustering problems, change detection, control theory and other disciplines. The book discusses the main problems and applications pertaining to bio-inspired computation and recognition, introducing algorithm implementation, model simulation, and practical application of parameter setting. Readers will find solutions to problems in computation and recognition, particularly neural networks, natural computing, machine learning and compressed sensing. This volume offers a comprehensive and well-structured introduction to brain and nature-inspired learning, computation, and recognition. Presents an invaluable systematic introduction to brain and nature-inspired learning, computation and recognition Describes the biological mechanisms, mathematical analyses and scientific principles behind brain and nature-inspired learning, calculation and recognition Systematically analyzes neural networks, natural computing, machine learning and compression, algorithms and applications inspired by the brain and biological mechanisms found in nature Discusses the theory and application of algorithms and neural networks, natural computing, machine learning and compression perception