TY - CONF T1 - Methods for deriving competitive activation mechanisms T2 - Neural Networks, 1989. IJCNN., International Joint Conference on Y1 - 1989 A1 - Reggia, James A. KW - connectionist models KW - decomposition KW - global optimization criteria KW - heuristic computer-assisted search KW - neural nets KW - optimisation KW - search problems KW - task-specific competitive activation mechanisms KW - virtual machines AB - Inhibitory interactions in connectionist models have traditionally been implemented using inhibitory connections. Recently, an alternative approach based on competitive activation mechanisms has been proposed. To make this alternative approach practical in large and complex models, it is necessary to formulate general methods for creating task-specific competitive activation mechanisms. The author presents two such methods that have been applied successfully: heuristic computer-assisted search and decomposition of global optimization criteria. The usefulness of these two methods is demonstrated through simulations that establish the effectiveness of the competitive activation mechanisms so produced.<> JA - Neural Networks, 1989. IJCNN., International Joint Conference on M3 - 10.1109/IJCNN.1989.118609 ER -