Abstract

A number of parallel information processing systems have been proposed which are loosely based on the architecture of the nervous system. I describe a simple model of this kind. Many of the major testable predictions of these systems fall in the realm of cognitive science: parallel, distributed, associative systems seem to have pronounced psychologies. They perform some computations well and some very poorly. It is a psychological question as to whether humans show the same pattern of errors and capabilities. I briefly describe the theory behind the models and discuss some of the major psychological predictions they generate. I present the results of large simulations of them. Specifically, I discuss psychological concept formation including formation of prototypes, the generation of semantic networks by distributed systems, and the use of the systems as distributed data bases and as simple-minded expert systems.

© 1985 Optical Society of America