Artificial neural networks and artificial immune systems: similarities and differences

Both the nervous system and the immune system are complex biological systems. Recognition and categorization are the major functions of both systems. The information processing principles of these natural systems inspired in developing intelligent problem-solving techniques, namely, the artificial neural network (ANN) and the artificial immune system (AIS). Though ANNs are well established techniques and are widely used, AISs have received very little attention and there have been relatively few applications of the AIS. This paper briefly describes some of the similarities and differences of these two systems from a computational viewpoint. The paper also reports some preliminary comparative results of the artificial systems.