hopfield1985neural: ``Neural'' computation of decisions in optimization problems

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tags
Neural Network
source
link
authors
Hopfield, J. J., & Tank, D. W.
year
1985

Many problems can be formulated as an optimization problem. Hopfield then describes several problems which are still being worked on:

  • What is the best route?
  • What is a good wiring layout for a computer chip?
  • Given a picture, what is the best three-dimensional description?
  • What are the objects in the picture?

Then talks about perceptual problem solving in the brain, and is aghast at the computational power required. He postulates, with evidence, that the power comes from (in part) parallel processing.

This paper goes into detail about organizing and using interconnected nonlinear “analog” neurons so that it will solve a well characterized, but non-biological, optimization problem. They focus on the “Traveling-Salesman Problem”.

References