A model of how the brain discriminates and categorises

We propose that the brain might possess the property of adjusting a vector representing a new object to be lodged into memory so that it is orthogonal to the vectors corresponding to the memories already in store to be able to discriminate among the presented information and categorise them. The contention is based on the observation that this operation embodies three plausible and intuitively appealing functions: (i) the presented object is compared with those in the store; (ii) its similarities and differences with them are identified, and (iii) stored with a facilitating economy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.