Introduction To The Theory Of Neural Computation

Comprehensive introduction to the neural network models currently under intensive study for computational applications. It also provides coverage of neural network applications in a variety of problems of both theoretical and practical interest.

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.

Emphasizing issues of computational efficiency, Michael Kearns and Umesh Vazirani introduce a number of central topics in computational learning theory for researchers and students in artificial intelligence, neural networks, theoretical computer science, and statistics. Emphasizing issues of computational efficiency, Michael Kearns and Umesh Vazirani introduce a number of central topics in computational learning theory for researchers and students in artificial intelligence, neural networks, theoretical computer science, and statistics. Computational learning theory is a new and rapidly expanding area of research that examines formal models of induction with the goals of discovering the common methods underlying efficient learning algorithms and identifying the computational impediments to learning. Each topic in the book has been chosen to elucidate a general principle, which is explored in a precise formal setting. Intuition has been emphasized in the presentation to make the material accessible to the nontheoretician while still providing precise arguments for the specialist. This balance is the result of new proofs of established theorems, and new presentations of the standard proofs. The topics covered include the motivation, definitions, and fundamental results, both positive and negative, for the widely studied L. G. Valiant model of Probably Approximately Correct Learning; Occam's Razor, which formalizes a relationship between learning and data compression; the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension; the equivalence of weak and strong learning; efficient learning in the presence of noise by the method of statistical queries; relationships between learning and cryptography, and the resulting computational limitations on efficient learning; reducibility between learning problems; and algorithms for learning finite automata from active experimentation.

A detailed formulation of neural networks from the information-theoretic viewpoint. The authors show how this perspective provides new insights into the design theory of neural networks. In particular they demonstrate how these methods may be applied to the topics of supervised and unsupervised learning, including feature extraction, linear and non-linear independent component analysis, and Boltzmann machines. Readers are assumed to have a basic understanding of neural networks, but all the relevant concepts from information theory are carefully introduced and explained. Consequently, readers from varied scientific disciplines, notably cognitive scientists, engineers, physicists, statisticians, and computer scientists, will find this an extremely valuable introduction to this topic.

The Handbook of Neural Computation is a practical, hands-on guide to the design and implementation of neural networks used by scientists and engineers to tackle difficult and/or time-consuming problems. The handbook bridges an information pathway between scientists and engineers in different disciplines who apply neural networks to similar probl

For any research field to have a lasting impact, there must be a firm theoretical foundation. Neural networks research is no exception. Some of the founda tional concepts, established several decades ago, led to the early promise of developing machines exhibiting intelligence. The motivation for studying such machines comes from the fact that the brain is far more efficient in visual processing and speech recognition than existing computers. Undoubtedly, neu robiological systems employ very different computational principles. The study of artificial neural networks aims at understanding these computational prin ciples and applying them in the solutions of engineering problems. Due to the recent advances in both device technology and computational science, we are currently witnessing an explosive growth in the studies of neural networks and their applications. It may take many years before we have a complete understanding about the mechanisms of neural systems. Before this ultimate goal can be achieved, an swers are needed to important fundamental questions such as (a) what can neu ral networks do that traditional computing techniques cannot, (b) how does the complexity of the network for an application relate to the complexity of that problem, and (c) how much training data are required for the resulting network to learn properly? Everyone working in the field has attempted to answer these questions, but general solutions remain elusive. However, encouraging progress in studying specific neural models has been made by researchers from various disciplines.

Optimization Techniques is a unique reference source to a diverse array of methods for achieving optimization, and includes both systems structures and computational methods. The text devotes broad coverage toa unified view of optimal learning, orthogonal transformation techniques, sequential constructive techniques, fast back propagation algorithms, techniques for neural networks with nonstationary or dynamic outputs, applications to constraint satisfaction,optimization issues and techniques for unsupervised learning neural networks, optimum Cerebellar Model of Articulation Controller systems, a new statistical theory of optimum neural learning, and the role of the Radial Basis Function in nonlinear dynamical systems.This volume is useful for practitioners, researchers, and students in industrial, manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. Provides in-depth treatment of theoretical contributions to optimal learning for neural network systems Offers a comprehensive treatment of orthogonal transformation techniques for the optimization of neural network systems Includes illustrative examples and comprehensive treatment of sequential constructive techniques for optimization of neural network systems Presents a uniquely comprehensive treatment of the highly effective fast back propagation algorithms for the optimization of neural network systems Treats, in detail, optimization techniques for neural network systems with nonstationary or dynamic inputs Covers optimization techniques and applications of neural network systems in constraint satisfaction