A layered neural network with three-state neurons optimizing the mutual information

The time evolution of an exactly solvable layered feedforward neural network with three-state neurons and optimizing the mutual information is studied for arbitrary synaptic noise (temperature). Detailed stationary temperature-capacity and capacity–activity phase diagrams are obtained. The model exhibits pattern retrieval, pattern-fluctuation retrieval and spin-glass phases. It is found that there is an improved performance in the form of both a larger critical capacity and information content compared with three-state Ising-type layered network models. Flow diagrams reveal that saddle-point solutions associated with fluctuation overlaps slow down considerably the flow of the network states towards the stable fixed points.