Exercises in Rethinking Innateness: A Handbook for Connectionist Simulations (Neural Network Modeling and Connectionism)

Rating:
Summary: A Great Introduction to Connectionism
Review: Here's a self-contained introduction to connectionist modeling. Easy to read and straight-forward, this text provides software and excercises aimed at stepping a novice through the basics of connectionism. Designed to accompany Rethinking Innateness (1996), these examples provide a glimpse into the world of cognitive modeling. The examples can, at times, be frustrating and the text is in need of more debugging hints; yet, the simulations are rewarding and thought-provoking. While those already familiar with connectionism will find the excercises too basic, those curious about connectionism will find the book a great place to start and one that doesn't bog the reader down with technical jargon. It is accessible, enjoyable, and written by two key players in connectionism: Kim Plunkett and Jeff Elman. Well worth reading, but only if the reader is willing to work through the basic simulations and answer the excercises along the way.