Continuous Attractor Neural Networks

Abstract

In this chapter a brief review is given of computational systems that are motivated by information processing in the brain, an area that is often called neurocomputing or artificial neural networks. While this is now a well studied and documented area, specific emphasis is given to a subclass of such models, called continuous attractor neural networks, which are beginning to emerge in a wide context of biologically inspired computing. The frequent appearance of such models in biologically motivated studies of brain functions gives some indication that this model might capture important information processing mechanisms used in the brain, either directly or indirectly. Most of this chapter is dedicated to an introduction to this basic model and some extensions that might be important for their application, either as a model of brain processing, or in technical applications. Direct technical applications are only emerging slowly, but some examples of promising directions are highlighted in this chapter.