New Generation Computing, 24(2006)185-201
Ohmsha, Ltd. and Springer
Received 12 October 2005
Revised manuscript received 19 December 2005
I review recent progress on the associative memory model, which is a kind of neural network model. First, I introduce this model and a mathematical theory called statistical neurodynamics describing its properties. Next, I discuss an associative memory model with hierarchically correlated memory patterns. Initially, in this model, the state approaches a mixed state that is a superposition of memory patterns. After that, it diverges from the mixed state, and finally converges to a memory pattern. I show that this retrieval dynamics can qualitatively replicate the temporal dynamics of face-responsive neurons in the inferior temporal cortex, which is considered to be the final stage of visual perception in the brain. Finally, I show unexpected link between associative memory and mobile phones (CDMA). The mathematical structure of CDMA multi-user detection problem resembles that of the associative memory model. It enables us to apply a theoretical framework of the associative memory model to CDMA.
Keywords:Associative Memory Model, Hierarchically
Correlated Patterns, Inferior Temporal Cortex, CDMA, Multi-User Detection.