Neural Nets and Theories of Memory

A number of models developed in work often called "neural-net" research may be of interest to physiologists working on the problem of memory. From this work comes a variety of ideas on how networks of neuron-like elements can be made to act as learning machines. Some of these may suggest w...

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Main Author: Minsky, Marvin
Language:en_US
Published: 2004
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/6103
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author Minsky, Marvin
author_facet Minsky, Marvin
author_sort Minsky, Marvin
collection MIT
description A number of models developed in work often called "neural-net" research may be of interest to physiologists working on the problem of memory. From this work comes a variety of ideas on how networks of neuron-like elements can be made to act as learning machines. Some of these may suggest ways in which memory may be stored in nervous systems. It is important, perhaps, to recognize that these models were not founded at all on physiological ideas; they really stem from psychological and introspective notions. They all involve some form of alteration of synaptic transmission properties contingent on the pre- and post-synaptic activity during and after the relevant behavior. This notion is suggested not so much by actual observation of synapses as by the introspective simile of wearing down a path -- the "ingraining" of a frequently-traveled route. Below we shall argue that this idea is useful and suggestive, but not sufficient. These models can be made to account for learning connections between stimuli and responses on a low level, but do not seem to account for higher, symbolic behavior. We will argue that the latter suggests a return to the search for localization of memory, a topic that has been unpopular for many years.
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spelling mit-1721.1/61032019-04-11T02:47:27Z Neural Nets and Theories of Memory Minsky, Marvin A number of models developed in work often called "neural-net" research may be of interest to physiologists working on the problem of memory. From this work comes a variety of ideas on how networks of neuron-like elements can be made to act as learning machines. Some of these may suggest ways in which memory may be stored in nervous systems. It is important, perhaps, to recognize that these models were not founded at all on physiological ideas; they really stem from psychological and introspective notions. They all involve some form of alteration of synaptic transmission properties contingent on the pre- and post-synaptic activity during and after the relevant behavior. This notion is suggested not so much by actual observation of synapses as by the introspective simile of wearing down a path -- the "ingraining" of a frequently-traveled route. Below we shall argue that this idea is useful and suggestive, but not sufficient. These models can be made to account for learning connections between stimuli and responses on a low level, but do not seem to account for higher, symbolic behavior. We will argue that the latter suggests a return to the search for localization of memory, a topic that has been unpopular for many years. 2004-10-04T14:39:28Z 2004-10-04T14:39:28Z 1963-03-01 AIM-048 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/6103 en_US AIM-048 2961465 bytes 2280178 bytes application/postscript application/pdf application/postscript application/pdf
spellingShingle Minsky, Marvin
Neural Nets and Theories of Memory
title Neural Nets and Theories of Memory
title_full Neural Nets and Theories of Memory
title_fullStr Neural Nets and Theories of Memory
title_full_unstemmed Neural Nets and Theories of Memory
title_short Neural Nets and Theories of Memory
title_sort neural nets and theories of memory
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/6103
work_keys_str_mv AT minskymarvin neuralnetsandtheoriesofmemory