Neocognitron with improved bend-extractors

We (1988) have reported previously that the performance of a neocognitron can be improved by a built-in bend-extracting layer. The conventional bend-extracting layer can detect bend points and end points of lines correctly, but not always crossing points of lines. This paper discusses that an introduction of a mechanism of disinhibition can make the bend-extracting layer detect not only bend points and end points but also crossing points of lines correctly. A neocognitron with this improved bend-extracting layer can recognize handwritten digits in the real world with a recognition rate of 98%.