Kohonen neural networks as models of social agents

Guido Fioretti

Department of Business Economics and Department of Computer Science, University of Bologna, Italy


Kohonen neural networks are able to reproduce important features of human cognition, such as the ability to form and modify mental categories developing classification criteria on their own. Thus, they are applicable in domains where decision-makers face novel situations, e.g. in investment decision-making when emerging technologies are involved.

I will describe a productive system by means of a Kohnen neural network where each neuron represents a decision-maker. This model extends and unifies several previous models of investment decision-making. I present results of computer simulations and compare them to analytical approximations. Possible applications on real data are indicated. Further, I will point out that the topic offers numerous possibilities for collaborations between social and natural scientists.