Connectionism and Psychology: A Psychological Perspective on New Connectionist Research / Edition 2

by Philip T. Quinlan

Overview

The rapid growth of neural network research has led to a major reappraisal of many fundamental assumptions in cognitive and perceptual psychology. This text—aimed at the advanced undergraduate and beginning postgraduate student—is an in-depth guide to those aspects of neural network research that are of direct relevance to human information processing.

Examples of new connectionist models of learning, vision, language and thought are described in detail. Both neurological and psychological considerations are used in assessing its theoretical contributions. The status of the basic predicates like exclusive-OR is examined, the limitations of perceptrons are explained and properties of multi-layer networks are described in terms of many examples of psychological processes. The history of neural networks is discussed from a psychological perspective which examines why certain issues have become important. The book ends with a general critique of the new connectionist approach.

It is clear that new connectionism work provides a distinctive framework for thinking about central questions in cognition and perception. This new textbook provides a clear and useful introduction to its theories and applications.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780226699615
Publisher:	University of Chicago Press
Publication date:	03/15/1992
Series:	Chicago Visual Library
Edition description:	1
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

Editorial Reviews

An exploration of a new school of psychology that has complicated the battle lines between the behaviorists and the cognitivists. Quinlan (psychology, U. of York, England) writes for psychologists who, like himself, have little or no background in mathematics, computer science, or neurophysiology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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