Collective Stability of Networks of Winner-Take-All Circuits

The neocortex has a remarkably uniform neuronal organization, suggesting that common principles of processing are employed throughout its extent. In particular, the patterns of connectivity observed in the superficial layers of the visual cortex are consistent with the recurrent excitation and inhibitory feedback required for cooperativecompetitive circuits such as the soft winner-take-all (WTA). WTA circuits offer interesting computational properties such as selective amplification, signal restoration, and decision making. But, these properties depend on the signal gain derived from positive feedback, and so there is a critical trade-off between providing feedback strong enough to support the sophisticated computations, while maintaining overall circuit stability. The issue of stability is all the more intriguing when one considers that the WTAs are expected to be densely distributed through the superficial layers, and that they are at least partially interconnected. We consider...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: NECO
• Authors: Ueli Rutishauser, Rodney J. Douglas, Jean-Jacques E. Slotine
• Keywords: Computer Networks, NECO 2011, Neural Computation, Superficial Layers, Uniform Neuronal Organization