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• The transformative field that bridges the gap between traditional
computing and human-like intelligence—Soft Computing.
• Soft computing is not just a technology; it's a paradigm shift in how
we approach problem-solving in a world that is often uncertain,
imprecise, and ambiguous.
• Unlike traditional, or "hard computing," which relies on precise
algorithms and binary logic, soft computing mimics the remarkable
flexibility and adaptability of the human brain.
• It thrives on approximations, probabilities, and the ability to learn and
adapt to changing environments.
Soft Computing Hard Computing
Deals with approximate models Deals with exact models
Tolerant to uncertainty and imprecision Requires precise inputs and outputs
Flexible and adaptive Rigid and deterministic
Example: Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic Example: Binary Logic, Arithmetic
Tolerance for imprecision and uncertainty
Flexibility and adaptability are critical strengths of soft computing. These characteristics
allow systems to adjust to new, dynamic, or unforeseen conditions and continue
functioning effectively.
In contrast to hard computing, which relies on rigid, rule-based systems, soft computing
methods can evolve, learn, and respond to changes in their environment.
Soft Computing
• Soft Computing is a consortium of methodologies that work synergistically
to solve real-world problems that are hard to model mathematically
• "Soft computing is an approach to computing which parallels the
remarkable ability of the human mind to reason and learn in an
environment of uncertainty and imprecision.“ - By Lotfi A. Zadeh (Father
of Fuzzy Logic)
• Soft computing is an umbrella term for solving problems using
approximate models and solutions, as opposed to precise and exact
methods used in hard computing
• Soft computing is a consortium of computing techniques aimed at
building intelligent, adaptive, and robust systems for solving complex
real-life problems where traditional algorithms struggle.
• soft computing brings together a powerful set of methodologies,
including:
• Fuzzy Logic, which allows machines to think in shades of gray, rather
than black and white.
• Neural Networks, inspired by the human brain, which learn patterns
and make predictions based on experience.
• Genetic Algorithms, which mimic the principles of evolution to find
optimal solutions.
• Probabilistic Reasoning, which tackles uncertainty with statistical
tools.
Fuzzy Logic: Deals with uncertainty and imprecision.Neural Networks: Learns from data and recognizes
patterns.Genetic Algorithms: Evolves solutions to optimization problems.Use Relatable Examples:Fuzzy Logic:
Controlling AC temperature based on "warm," "hot," or "cold."Neural Networks: Recognizing a friend’s face,
even with new glasses.Genetic Algorithms: Finding the fastest route on Google Maps by evolving routes.
Neural Networks
• Definition:
Neural networks are computational systems inspired by the human
brain. They consist of interconnected nodes (neurons) that process
data and learn patterns.
• A neural network is a processing device , either an algorithm or an
actual h/w, whose design was inspired by the design and functioning
of animal brains and components.
• Neural networks have the ability to learn by example, makes them
very flexible and powerful.
Artificial Neural Networks
• Definition:
Artificial Neural Network may be defined as an information –processing model that
inspired by the way biological nervous systems, such as the brain, process information.
• Model replicate basic functions of brain. Key element is the novel structure of
information processing system.
• Advantages of Neural Networks
• Adaptive Learning: An ANN is endowed with the ability to learn how to do tasks based on the
data given for training or initial experience
• Self organization: An ANN can create its own organization or representation of the information it
receives during learning time.
• Real time operation: ANN computations carried in parallel. Special h/w devices are being
designed and manufactured to take advantage of this capability of ANN.
• Fault tolerance via redundant information coding: Partial destruction of a neural network leads
to the corresponding degradation performance. How ever, some network capabilities may be
retained even after major network damage.
• Applications:
•Medical Diagnosis: Predicting diseases based on symptoms.
•Finance: Stock market prediction, risk assessment.
•Manufacturing: Quality control, production optimization.
•Robotics: Adaptive motion planning.
•Transportation: Route optimization, self-driving cars.
• Fuzzy Logic :
Fuzzy Logic is a computational approach based on the principles of
reasoning with imprecision and vagueness. Unlike traditional binary
logic, which deals strictly with true (1) or false (0), fuzzy logic allows for
degrees of truth, representing real-world situations more effectively.
• Fuzziness: Deals with uncertainty and imprecision.
• For example, terms like "hot" or "cold" are subjective and vary in degree.
• Membership Functions: Represent how much a value belongs to a fuzzy
set.
• For instance, "temperature = 30°C" might belong 70% to the "hot" set
and 30% to the "warm" set.
• Fuzzy Sets: Unlike crisp sets, where elements either belong or do not
belong, fuzzy sets allow partial membership.
Genetic Algorithm (GA)
• Definition:
A Genetic Algorithm (GA) is a search and optimization technique inspired by the
process of natural selection and genetics. It is part of evolutionary computing
and works by mimicking biological evolution to solve complex problems.
• Natural Selection: The fittest individuals are more likely to survive and
reproduce.
• Crossover: Combines parts of two parent solutions to create offspring.
• Mutation: Introduces random changes to solutions for diversity.
• Fitness Function: Measures how good a solution is for the given problem.
• Optimization: Solve complex problems where traditional methods fail.
• Adaptability: Explore large solution spaces effectively.
• Robustness: Handle noisy, incomplete, or non-linear data.
Hybrid Systems
Hybrid systems in soft computing combine two or more computational techniques (such as
Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks, and Genetic Algorithms) to leverage the strengths of each
method while mitigating their individual weaknesses. These systems are designed to solve
complex, real-world problems where a single technique may not be sufficient.
• Neuro-Fuzzy Systems: Combines Neural Networks (learning ability) with Fuzzy Logic
(handling imprecision). Determine parameters by processing data samples
• Example: Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) for control systems like
automatic braking in vehicles.
• Fuzzy-Genetic Systems: Uses Genetic Algorithms for optimizing fuzzy system parameters.
• Example: Tuning the membership functions of a fuzzy controller for robotics.
• Neuro-Genetic Systems: Employs Genetic Algorithms to optimize Neural Network
architectures or weights. (learning rate, momentum rate, tolerance level, no. of hidden
layers etc)
• Example: Selecting the best neural network structure for image recognition tasks.
HARD COMPUTING SOFT COMPUTING
Artificial Neural Network
• Artificial Neural Networks are mathematical models designed to simulate the
behavior of biological neural networks. They consist of layers of interconnected
artificial neurons.
• Artificial Neural Network may be defined as an information –processing model
that inspired by the way biological nervous systems, such as the brain, process
information.
• Model replicate basic functions of brain. Key element is the novel structure of
information processing system
• ANNs process large no. of highly interconnected large processing elements called
nodes or units or neurons
Biological Neural Network
•Biological nervous system is the most important part of many living
things, in particular, human beings.
•There is a part called brain at the center of human nervous system.
•In fact, any biological nervous system consists of a large number of
interconnected processing units called neurons.
•Each neuron is approximately 10µm long and they can operate in
parallel.
•Typically, a human brain consists of approximately 1011 neurons
communicating with each other with the help of electrical impulses.
• Soma or cell body-where cell nucleus
is located
• Dendrites- A bush of very thin fibre
where the nerve is connected to the
cell body
• Axon- A long cylindrical fibre which
carries the impulses of the neuron.
• Synapse : It is a junction where
axon makes contact with the
dendrites of neighboring
dendrites.
Schematic diagram of a biological neuron
• Dendrites are tree like networks made of nerve fiber connected to the cell body.
• An Axon is a single, long connection extending from the cell body and carrying signals
from the neuron.
• The end of axon splits into fine strands.
• It is found that each strand terminated into small bulb like organs called as synapse.
• It is through synapse that the neuron introduces its signals to other nearby neurons.
• The receiving ends of these synapses on the nearby neurons can be found both on
the dendrites and on the cell body.
• There are approximately 104
synapses per neuron in the human body.
• Electric impulse is passed between synapse and dendrites. It is a chemical process
which results in increase/decrease in the electric potential inside the body of the
receiving cell. If the electric potential reaches a threshold value, receiving cell fires &
pulse / action potential of fixed strength and duration is send through the axon to
synaptic junction of the cell. After fire, cell has to wait for a period called refractory
period.
•There is a chemical in each neuron called neurotransmitter.
• Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain. They are released by neurons to transmit
signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands. Examples include dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.
•A signal (also called sense) is transmitted across neurons by this chemical.
• Neurons communicate via synaptic transmission, where an electrical signal (action potential) triggers
the release of neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters cross the synaptic gap between neurons,
allowing the signal to propagate
•That is, all inputs from other neuron arrive to a neurons through dendrites.
• Dendrites are branch-like structures that extend from the neuron’s cell body (soma). They receive
input signals (via neurotransmitters) from other neurons' axons. This is the starting point of signal
processing in the neuron
•These signals are accumulated at the synapse of the neuron and then serve as
the output to be transmitted through the neuron.
• At the synapse, neurotransmitters released by the presynaptic neuron bind to receptors on the
postsynaptic neuron. This triggers changes in the postsynaptic neuron's membrane potential,
integrating all incoming signals.
•An action may produce an electrical impulse, which usually lasts for about a
millisecond.
• The electrical impulse referred to here is the action potential. When the sum of all incoming signals
(excitatory and inhibitory) exceeds a specific threshold at the soma, the neuron generates an action
potential, lasting ~1 millisecond. This is the electrical signal transmitted along the axon.
•Note that this pulse generated due to an incoming signal and all signal may
not produce pulses in axon unless it crosses a threshold value.
• Neurons follow the all-or-nothing principle. Not all incoming signals are strong enough to generate an
action potential. Only when the summed signals at the soma exceed a threshold value does the
neuron "fire" and transmit a signal down its axon.
•Also, note that an action signal in axon of a neuron is commutative signals
arrive at dendrites which summed up at soma.
• Commutative nature: This means that the order of signals arriving at the dendrites does not matter;
their total effect is considered at the soma. Summing up at the soma: The neuron processes incoming
signals by summing up excitatory (positive) and inhibitory (negative) inputs. If the net signal surpasses
the threshold, the neuron generates an action potential.
The biological basis of signal transmission in neurons, highlighting
critical concepts like:
• Chemical communication via neurotransmitters.
• Integration of signals at the soma.
• The generation of action potentials based on a threshold mechanism.
This process is often the inspiration for Artificial Neural Networks
(ANNs) in machine learning, where:
• Inputs to a neuron represent dendrites.
• A summation function in ANNs mimics the integration of signals.
• A threshold activation function in ANNs is inspired by the biological
firing threshold.
•In fact, the human brain is a highly complex structure viewed as a
massive, highly interconnected network of simple processing elements
called neurons.
•Artificial neural networks (ANNs) or simply we refer it as neural
network (NNs), which are simplified models (i.e. imitations) of the
biological nervous system, and obviously, therefore, have been
motivated by the kind of computing performed by the human brain.
•The behavior of a biolgical neural network can be captured by a
simple model called artificial neural network.
Biological
neuron
Artificial neuron
Cell Neuron
Dendrites Weights or
interconnections
Soma Net input
Axon Output
Mathematical model of artificial neuron
In this model net input is
calculated as
𝑦𝑖𝑛 = 𝑥1𝑤1 + 𝑥2𝑤2 + +
⋯ 𝑥𝑛𝑤𝑛
=
n
∑ 𝑥𝑖𝑤𝑖
𝑖=1
Where, i represents ith
processing element. The
activation function applied over
it to calculate the output. The
weight represents the strength
of synapses connecting the
input and output.
x1
w1
x2 w2
w3
x3
xn
wn
•a neuron is a part of an interconnected network of nervous system
and serves the following.
• Compute input signals
• Transportation of signals (at a very high speed)
• Storage of information
• Perception, automatic training and learning
•Truly, every component of the model (i.e. artificial neuron) bears a
direct analogy to that of a biological neuron. It is this model which
forms the basis of neural network (i.e. artificial neural network).
…..
x1
w1
x2
w2
w3
x3
Xn wn
input weight
Summation
unit
Threshold unit output
Here, x1, x2, · · · , xn are the n inputs to the artificial neuron.
w1, w2, · · · , wn are weights attached to the input links.
Note that, a biological neuron receives all inputs through the
dendrites, sums them and produces an output if the sum is
greater than a threshold value.
The input signals are passed on to the cell body through the
synapse, which may accelerate or retard an arriving signal.
It is this acceleration or retardation of the input signals that is
modeled by the weights.
An effective synapse, which transmits a stronger signal will have
a correspondingly larger weights while a weak synapse will have
smaller weights.
Thus, weights here are multiplicative factors of the inputs to
account for the strength of the synapse.
• An artificial neural network (ANN) is an efficient information processing
system which resembles the characteristics of biological neural network.
• ANNs contain large number of highly interconnected processing
elements called nodes or neurons or units.
• Each neuron is connected with other by connection link and each
connection link is associated with weights which contain information
about the input signal.
• This information is used by neuron net to solve a particular problem.
ANNs have ability to learn, recall and generalize training pattern or data
similar to that of human brain. The ANN processing elements called
neurons or artificial neurons
• Each neuron has an internal state of its own, called activation or activity level of neuron
which is the function of the inputs the neuron receives.
• The activation signal of a neuron is transmitted to other neurons. A neuron can send
only one signal at a time which can be transmitted to several neurons.
• Consider the figure, here X1 and X2 are input neurons, Y is the output neuron W1 and W2
are the weights net input is calculated as
• 𝑦𝑖𝑛 = 𝑥1𝑤1 + 𝑥2𝑤2
• where x1 and x2 are the activation of the input neurons X1 and X2, i.e., is the output of
the input signals. The output y of the output neuron Y can be obtained by applying
activations over the net input.
Architecture of a simple artificial neuron net
• 𝑦 = (
𝑓 𝑦𝑖𝑛)
• Output = Function (net input calculated)
• The function to be applied over the net input is called activation
function. The net input calculation is similar to the calculation of
output of a pure linear straight line equation y=mx
Neural net of pure linear equation
The weight involve in the ANN is equivalent to the slope of the straight line.
Hence, the total input say I received by the soma of the artificial
neuron is
I = w1x1 + w2x2 + · · · + wnxn = Σ
n
i=1 wi xi
To generate the final output y , the sum is passed to a filter φ
called transfer function, which releases the output.
That is, y = φ(I)
…..
x1
x2
xn
w1
w2
w3
x3
wn
input weight Summation
unit
Threshold unit output
I
Ø(I)
y
•A very commonly known transfer function is the
thresholding function.
•In this thresholding function, sum (i.e. I) is compared with a
threshold value θ.
•If the value of I is greater than θ, then the output is 1 else it
is 0 (this is just like a simple linear filter).
•In other words,
y = φ( Σ
n
i=1 wi xi − θ)
where
φ(I) = 1 , if I > θ
0 , if I ≤ θ
Such a Φ is called step function (also known as Heaviside function).
• For the network shown in the figure , calculate the net input to the
output neuron where [𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , 𝑥3 ]= [ 0.3, 0.5, 0.6]
[𝑤1 , 𝑤2 , w3 ]=[ 0.2, 0.1, -0.3]
𝑦𝑖𝑛 = -0.07
In this model net input is calculated as
𝑦𝑖𝑛 = 𝑥1𝑤1 + 𝑥2𝑤2 + +
⋯ 𝑥𝑛𝑤𝑛 =
n
∑ 𝑥𝑖𝑤𝑖
𝑖=1
Term Brain Computer
Speed Execution time is few milliseconds Execution time is few nano seconds
Processing
Perform massive parallel operations
simultaneously
Perform several parallel operations
simultaneously. It is faster the
biological neuron
Size and
complexity
Number of Neuron is 1011
and number of
interconnections is 1015
. So complexity
of brain is higher than
computer
It depends on the chosen
application and network designer.
Storage
capacity
 Information is stored in
interconnections or in synapse
strength.
 New information is stored without
destroying old one.
 Sometimes fails to recollect
information
 Stored in continuous memory
location.
 Overloading may destroy older
locations.
 Can be easily retrieved
Comparison between Biological neuron and Artificial neuron
Term Brain Computer
Tolerance
 Fault tolerant
 Store and retrieve information even
interconnections fails
 Accept redundancies
 No fault tolerance
 Information corrupted if the
network connections
disconnected.
 No redundancies
Control
mechanism
Depends on active chemicals and
neuron connections are strong or weak
CPU
Control mechanism is very simple
• Characteristics of ANN:
• It is a neurally implemented mathematical model
• Large number of processing elements called neurons exists here.
• Interconnections with weighted linkage hold informative knowledge.
• Input signals arrive at processing elements through connections and
connecting weights.
• Processing elements can learn, recall and generalize from the given data.
• Computational power is determined by the collective behavior of neurons.
ANN is a connection models, parallel distributed processing models, self-
organizing systems, neuro-computing systems and neuro - morphic system
Evolution of neural networks
Year Neural network Designer Description
1943 McCulloch and
Pitts neuron
McCulloch and
Pitts
Arrangement of neurons is combination
of logic gate. Unique feature is thresh hold
1949 Hebb network Hebb If two neurons are active, then their
connection strengths should be increased.
1958,1959,1962,
1988,
Perceptron Frank Rosenblatt,
Block, Minsky and
Papert
Here the weights on the connection path can
be adjusted.
1960 Adaline Widrow and Hoff Here the weights are adjusted to reduce the
difference between the net input to
the output unit and the desired output.
1972 Kohonen self-
organizing feature
map
Kohonen Inputs are clustered to obtain a fired output
neuron.
1982, 1984,
1985,
1986, 1987
Hopfield network John Hopfield and
Tank
Based on fixed weights.
Can act as associative memory nets
Year Neural network Designer Description
1986 Back propagation
network
Rumelhart,Hinton and
Williams
 Multilayered
 Error propagated backward from
output to the hidden units
1988 Counter propagation
network
Grossberg Similar to kohonen network.
1987-1990 Adaptive
resonance
Theory(ART)
Carpenter and
Grossberg
Designed for binary and analog inputs.
1988
Radial basis function
network
Broomhead and
Lowe
Resemble back propagation network, but
activation function used is Gaussian
function.
1988 Neo cognitron Fukushima For character recognition.
Basic models of artificial neural networks
• Models are based on three entities
• The model’s synaptic interconnections.
• The training or learning rules adopted for updating and adjusting the connection weights.
• Their activation functions
Connections
• The arrangement of neurons to form layers and the connection pattern formed
within and between layers is called the network architecture. There exist five basic
types of connection architecture.
• They are:
• Single layer feed forward network
• Multilayer feed-forward network
• Single node with its own feedback
• Single-layer recurrent network
• Multilayer recurrent network
• Feed forward network: If no neuron in the output layer is an input to
a node in the same layer / proceeding layer.
• Feedback network: If outputs are directed back as input to the
processing elements in the same layer/proceeding layer.
• Lateral feedback: If the output is directed back to the input of the
same layer.
• Recurrent networks: Are networks with feedback networks with
closed loop.
Single layer feed forward network
Layer is formed by taking processing elements and combining it with
other processing elements. Input and output are linked with each other
Inputs are connected to the processing nodes with various weights,
resulting in series of outputs one per node.
When a layer of
processing nodes is
formed, the inputs can be
connected to these nodes
with various weights,
resulting in a series of
outputs, one per node.
This is called single layer
feed forward network.
Multilayer feed-forward network
This network is formed by the interconnection of several layers. Input layer
receives input and buffers input signal. Output layer generated output. Layer
between input and output is called hidden layer. Hidden layer is internal to the
network. There are Zero to several hidden layers in a network. More the hidden
layer more is the complexity of network, but efficient output is produced.
Single node with its own feedback
It is a simple recurrent neural network having a single neuron with
feedback to itself
Single layer recurrent network
• A single layer network with feedback from output can be directed to
processing element itself or to other processing element/both.
Multilayer recurrent network
Processing element output can be directed back to the nodes in the
preceding layer, forming a multilayer recurrent network.
Maxnet –competitive interconnections having fixed weights.
On-center-off-surround/lateral inhibition structure – each processing
neuron receives two different classes of inputs- “excitatory” input from
nearby processing elements & “inhibitory” elements from more
distantly located processing elements. This type of interconnection is
shown below
Learning
• Learning or Training is the process by means of which a neural network adapts itself
to a stimulus by making proper parameter adjustments, resulting in the production
of desired response.
• Two broad kinds of learning in ANNs is:
• Parameter learning – updates connecting weights in a neural net.
• Structure learning – focus on change in the network.
• Apart from these, learning in ANN is classified into three categories as
• Supervised learning
• Unsupervised learning
• Reinforcement learning
Supervised learning: where a model learns to map inputs to outputs based on
labeled training data. It operates under the guidance of a "supervisor," which is the
labeled dataset, containing input-output pairs.
In ANN, each input vector requires a corresponding target vector, which represents
the desired output. The input vector along with target vector is called training pair.
Input vector results in output vector. The actual output vector is compared with
desired output vector. If there is a difference means an error signal is generated by
the network. It is used for adjustment of weights until actual output matches
desired output.
Unsupervised learning
where the model learns patterns and structures from data without
labeled outputs. Unlike supervised learning, it deals with datasets that
contain only inputs and no corresponding target labels.
The network itself discover patterns, regularities, features/ categories
from the input data and relations for the input data over the output.
Exact clusters are formed by discovering similarities & dissimilarities so
called as self – organizing.
Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a type of learning where an agent
learns to make decisions by interacting with an environment to
maximize a reward signal. It is inspired by the way humans and animals
learn through trial and error. It is similar to supervised learning.
Learning based on critic information is called reinforcement learning &
the feedback sent is called reinforcement signal. The network receives
some feedback from the environment. Feedback is only evaluative.
Activation Functions
Activation function is applied over the net input to calculate the output
of an ANN. Information processing of processing element has two
major parts: input and output. An integration function (f) is associated
with input of processing element.
Identity function: It is a linear function which is defined as
𝑓( ) =
𝑥 𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑥 - The output is same as the input.
Binary step function: This function can be defined as
Where, θ represents threshold value. It is used in single layer nets to
convert the net input to an output that is binary (0 or 1).
Bipolar step function: This function can be defined as
Where, θ represents threshold value. It is used in single layer nets to
convert the net input to an output that is bipolar (+1 or -1).
Sigmoid function: It is used in Back propagation nets.
Two types:
a) Binary sigmoid function: It is also termed as logistic sigmoid function
or unipolar sigmoid function. It is defined as
•
where, λ represents steepness parameter. The derivative of this
function is
𝑓′( ) = ( )[1 − ( )]
𝑥 𝜆𝑓 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
The range of sigmoid function is 0 to 1.
b) Bipolar sigmoid function: It is defined as
-1 =
where, λ represents steepness parameter and the sigmoid range is between -1
and +1. The derivative of this function is
𝑓′( ) = /2[1+ ( )][1 − ( )]
𝑥 𝜆 𝑓 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
It is closely related to hyperbolic tangent function, which is written as
h(x)=
h(x)=
• The derivative of the hyperbolic tangent function is ℎ′
( ) = [1 + ( )][1 −
𝑥 ℎ 𝑥
( )]
ℎ 𝑥
Ramp function: The ramp function is defined as
Important Terminologies of ANNs
Weights: Weight matrix or connection matrix
Bias: A constant value added to the weighted sum of inputs before
applying the activation function.
• Equation:
y=f(∑wixi+b)
• Positive bias and negative bias
Threshold :A value that determines whether a neuron activates.
• Example:If the output is greater than the threshold, the neuron fires.
• Relation to Activation Functions: Threshold is often integrated within
activation functions like step or sigmoid functions.
• Learning Rate: denoted by α. It is used to control the amount of weight
adjustment at each step of training. The learning rate, ranging from 0 to
1, determines the rate of learning at each time step.
• Momentum Factor: Convergence is made faster if a momentum factor
is added to the weight updation process. This is generally done in the
back propagation network. If momentum has to be used, the weights
from one or more previous training patterns must be saved.
Momentum helps the net in reasonably large weight adjustments until
the corrections are in the same general direction for several patterns.
Vigilance parameter:
The vigilance parameter is denoted by “ρ”. It is generally used in
adaptive resonance theory (ART) network. The vigilance parameter is
used to control the degree of similarity required for patterns to be
assigned to the same cluster unit. The choice of vigilance parameter
ranges approximately from 0.7 to 1 to perform useful work in
controlling the number of clusters.
McCulloch and Pitts Neuron
• It is discovered in 1943 and usually called as M-P neuron.
• M-P neurons are connected by directed weighted paths.
• Activation of M-P neurons is binary (i.e) at any time step the neuron may fire or
may not fire.
• Weights associated with communication links may be excitatory (wgts are
positive)/inhibitory (wgts are negative).
• Threshold plays major role here. There is a fixed threshold for each neuron and if
the net input to the neuron is greater than the threshold then the neuron fires.
• They are widely used in logic functions. A simple M-P neuron is shown in the figure.
It is excitatory with weight w (w>0) / inhibitory with weight –p (p<0).
• The M-P neuron has no particular training algorithm. An analysis is performed to
determine the weights and the threshold. It is used as a building block where any
function or phenomenon is modeled based on a logic function.
In the figure , inputs from x1 to xn possess excitatory weighted connection
and Xn+1 to Xn+m has inhibitory weighted interconnections
𝑓 (𝑥)=
{1𝑖𝑓 𝑦 𝑖𝑛≥𝜃
0𝑖𝑓 𝑦 𝑖𝑛< 𝜃
The firing of neuron is based on threshold,
activation function is defined as
Output will fire if it receives “k” or more excitatory inputs but no inhibitory inputs
where kw ≥ θ>(k-1) w
For inhibition to be absolute, the threshold with
the activation function should satisfy the
following condition: θ > nw –p
Hebb network
• Donald Hebb stated in 1949 that “In brain, the learning is performed by the
change in the synaptic gap”.
• When an axon of cell A is near enough to excite cell B, and repeatedly or
permanently takes place in firing it, some growth process or metabolic change
takes place in one or both the cells such that A’s efficiency, as one of the cells
firing B, is increased.
• According to Hebb rule, the weight vector is found to increase proportionately to
the product of the input and the learning signal.
• In Hebb learning, two interconnected neurons are ‘on’ simultaneously. The
weight update in Hebb rule is given by wi(new) = wi (old)+ xi y
• Hebbs network is suited more for bipolar data. If binary data is used, the weight
updation formula cannot distinguish two conditions namely:
• A training pair in which an input unit is “on” and the target value is “off”.
• A training pair in which both the input unit and the target value is “off”.
Introduction to Soft Computing - Presentation