Landry, Kenneth D.2015-04-292015-04-291988http://hdl.handle.net/10919/51904To create neural networks that work, one needs to specify a structure and the interconnection weights between each pair of connected computing elements. The structure of a network can be selected by the designer depending on the application, although the selection of interconnection weights is a much larger problem. Algorithms have been developed to alter the weights slightly in order to produce the desired results. Learning algorithms such as Hebb's rule, the Delta rule and error propagation have been used, with success, to learn the appropriate weights. The major objection to this class of algorithms is that one cannot specify what is not desired in the network in addition to what is desired. An alternate method to learning the correct interconnection weights is to evolve a network in an environment that rewards "good” behavior and punishes "bad" behavior, This technique allows interesting networks to appear which otherwise may not be discovered by other methods of learning. In order to teach a network the correct weights, this approach simply needs a direction where an acceptable solution can be obtained rather than a complete answer to the problem.vi, 65 leavesapplication/pdfen-USIn CopyrightLD5655.V855 1988.L362Computer networksThesis