Definition

1. Noun:
   • A biological network of neurons: A structure in the body composed of interconnected neurons or nerve cell groups (nuclei) that work together to perform a specific physiological function, such as processing sensory information or controlling movement.
   • A computational model: A computer system architecture designed to mimic the structure and function of biological neural networks. It consists of interconnected processing units (analogous to neurons) that can learn to perform tasks by adjusting the strength of their connections based on experience, often through trial and error.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Biological):

  • The visual neural network in the brain processes signals from the eyes.
  • Research focuses on how specific neural networks control breathing.

• Noun (Computational):

  • The company uses a neural network to recommend products to customers.
  • A well-trained neural network can identify objects in images with high accuracy.

Advanced Usage

• "Deep neural network": A specific type of computational neural network with multiple layers between the input and output layers, enabling it to model complex patterns.

  • Deep neural networks are fundamental to modern artificial intelligence.

• "Artificial neural network (ANN)": The full term often used to distinguish the computational model from its biological counterpart.

  • The course provides an introduction to artificial neural networks.

Variants and Related Words

• Neural (adj): Relating to a nerve or the nervous system.

  • Neural activity increases during learning.

• Network (n): An interconnected system.

  • The transportation network connects all major cities.

• Connectionism (n): An approach in cognitive science that models mental or behavioral phenomena as the emergent processes of interconnected networks of simple units.

  • Connectionism is a theoretical framework behind neural networks.

Synonyms

• Biological context: Neuronal circuit, nerve net.
• Computational context: Connectionist model, artificial neural network (ANN), machine learning model.

Related Phrases

• "Train a neural network": The process of teaching a computational neural network by feeding it data and adjusting its internal parameters.

  • It can take significant computational power to train a complex neural network.

• "Neural network architecture": The specific design and arrangement of layers and connections within a computational model.

  • Choosing the right neural network architecture is crucial for the project's success.

Related Idioms/Concepts

• "Black box": A term sometimes associated with neural networks, referring to the complexity that can make their internal decision-making processes difficult for humans to interpret.
  • Despite their power, some neural networks are criticized for being black boxes.

Noun

1. any network of neurons or nuclei that function together to perform some function in the body
2. computer architecture in which processors are connected in a manner suggestive of connections between neurons; can learn by trial and error