Pattern recognition and associative memory as dynamical processes in a synergetic system. I. Translational invariance, selective attention, and decomposition of scenes.

We consider a model for associative memory and pattern recognition which was devised by Haken (1987b). This model treats the activity of the neurons as continuous variables and exploits an analogy with pattern formation in synergetic systems. The capability of such a system to act as associative memory is demonstrated by the reconstruction of faces which are partially offered to the system, and which are restored by the corresponding dynamical process. We demonstrate how this model can be cast into a form which is translation invariant and how partially hidden faces in scenes can be recognized by means of the control of attention parameters of specific patterns.