home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
- Another Mitchell/Ware Release
-
- Neural Net Simulator (c) 1987 by Fred Mitchell (M/W)
-
- This software follows the same conventions of all Mitchell/Ware.
- It may FREELY be distributed in any machine-readable form,
- unmodified, in its entirety. Questions? Suggestions? Feel
- free to call at 638-4936 12pm-8pm Mon-Fri, 2pm-8pm Sat and
- Sun. Donations? Feel Free to send as much as you want to: 670
- Magnolia Court, Bensalem, Pa 19020. Make your check payable to
- Fred Mitchell. He will be more than glad to know that he
- has your support, whether verbal or monetary.
-
-
- NNS
-
- I will assume that you have some working knowledge of the nature
- of neurons. (Otherwise, why would you spend 4-8 minutes
- downloading this package?) 256 neurons are simulated, each with
- 16 inputs (which I shall refer to as dentrites from now on) from
- other neurons. Some can be inhibitory dentrites,
- depending on the inhibitory selection, which is made by random
- chance, to an averave percentage specified by the "% Inhibitory"
- input. The wiring is also done automatically. And you can also set
- the stimulus, and observe the response.
-
- WALKTHROUGH
-
- Now, let's explain how to run the program. After you have invoked
- the program, you will see the initial message. When you're finish
- reading it, hit RETURN and BE PATIENT!
-
- Next, it will ask you to set the stimulus. This will be a 4X4 grid
- to the left. Use the function keys to turn on or off indivual
- 'pixels'. Hit RETURN when done.
-
- LEARNING RATE - sets the rate at which the threshold firing levels
- of the neurons will be affected. If a neuron is firing, its
- threshold may be raised. Conversely, if it is not firing, it may
- be lowered. The rate is the percentage probability that any given
- neuron will be adjusted.
-
- SET THRESHOLD - sets the initial threshold of all neurons.
- Remember that all neurons have 16 dentrites. The number should be
- low - 1 to 6. Obviously, neurons will not fire above a 16 setting.
- But, the thresholds (on an individual basis) will be lowered until
- firing begins.
-
- % INHIBITORY - sets the percentage of inhibitory dentrites that
- will be present. As to which ones will be made inhibitory will be
- up to chance. Experiment with any range from 0 to 100 percent.
- Best results may be obtained around 10-20%, but try anything.
-
- NEXT, you will see something like this appear:
-
- .... ................ ....
- .... ................ ....
- .... ................ ....
- .... ................ ....
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
- ................
-
- (S)timulus (T)hreshold (I)nhibit (R)un continuously
- (C)lear (L)earn SPACE - step ESC - escape
-
- The "S", "T", "I", and "L" commands we have already gone over. You
- can change anyone of them throughout the course of running. The
- "R" command lets the net run continuously, and the "C" command
- clears the network. SPACE allows you to single-step, and ESC
- returns you to DOS.
-
-
- LAST WORDS
-
- This is not an exact simulation, of course, but it may give some
- insight into the possibilities of using electronic neurons as
- computers. By the way, the 16X16 grid in the middle represents the
- states of all the neurons. The 4X4 to the right is the response.
- Later, time (and God) permitting, I will do a much more accurate
- model of the neuron, or do a Perpectron simulation. Any
- suggestions or questions should be directed to Fred Mitchell at
- (215) 638-4936, or by leaving a response on the BBS you found this
- program to my pseudonym, PAUL ATREIDES. (I know, but there is a
- reason that I am using a pseudonym.)
-