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Artificial Intelligence and Neural Networks Research Group

Welcome | People | Applied Logic | Neural Networks | Memory | Natural Language | Sensorimotor Processing | Lab Map

Neural Networks

Despite its slow "hardware" the brain is a much more powerful and sophisticated computational system than any computer ever built. What can the brain teach us about computation and how to perform complex tasks such as natural language processing, vision, and control and optimisation problems? Neural networks are a family of methods that try to address these issues and explore "brain-like" computation, information processing and learning. "Deep learning" is a currently popular technology based on neural networks, and used by organisations such as Google, Baidu, Microsoft and Apple.

In our group, we build neural network models of memory mechanisms, natural language and sensorimotor processing.

We also teach three specialised courses on neural networks.

• COSC420: Neural Networks
• COSC421: Neural models of language
• COSC422: Computational Neuroscience

These papers are part of the University's Neuroscience programme, which features many other relevant papers, taught by the departments of Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, and elsewhere in the University.

The following are useful resources for finding out more:

Although it is now defunct, the old

• comp.ai.neural-nets FAQ is still a really good introduction to neural nets, the literature, simulators, and more. There are many overview web pages for neural nets, see for example:
  • the Wikipedia page on neural networks (see external links!)
  • the Wikipedia page on artificial neural networks
  • the Wikipedia page on connectionism
  (Why three wikipedia pages on essentially the same topic? Just because.)
  
  
• the Yahoo neural nets page
• the Neural Networks Warehouse, books, tutorials, libraries, software and more
• the AAAI page, readings, resources, references
• a collection of bibliographies
• an old page at a high energy physics site
• Useful information can sometimes be found on comp.ai.neural-nets.

Neural nets at Otago

There is a lot of neural network related research and teaching at Otago:

• Within Computer Science several staff members have related interests.
• The page for COSC420 Neural Networks includes general information and neural network related library resources.
• Other related papers include PSYC471 Cognitive Neuroscience (Psychology), and INFO411 Advanced Knowledge Engineering (Information Science).
• Neural networks is part of the Memory Research Theme (one of several Otago Research Themes), and part of the Neuroscience Programme.