Design and implementation of biologically realistic signal to symbol translators

Reviews the problem of translating signals into symbols preserving maximally the information contained in the signal time structure. In this context, we motivate the use of nonconvergent dynamics for the signal to symbol translator. We then describe a biologically realistic model of the olfactory system proposed by Walter Freeman (1975) that has locally stable dynamics but is globally chaotic. We present results of simulations and measurements obtained from a fabricated analog VLSI chip.