Efficient biologically-based pattern-recognizing networks

A biologiclly-motivated classifying neural network which is based on the feature extraction scheme found in the visual cortex is suggested. A special process is proposed for grading and automatically selecting the 'best' features for specific recognition tasks. Ranking is based on a feature's calculated discriminating ability, such that a given class is separated from each and every other class by a given amount. The outcome is a net with less computational complexity than other neural nets, yet one which is more biologically plausible. The main motivation for constructing a reduced net is that the complex circuitry of the brain deals with a huge number of patterns, while a machine-based recognition system usually deals with a limited number of patterns. Results show that feature reduction is drastic and that very compact nets, of the order of tens of neurons, can be used to classify patterns, even in a noisy environment.