T. Natschlaeger, W. Maass, and H. Markram
We will discuss in this survey article a new framework for analysing
computations on time series and in particular on spike trains, introduced in
(Maass et. al. 2002). In contrast to common computational models this new
framework does not require that information can be stored in some stable
states of a computational system. It has recently been shown that such models
where all events are transient can be successfully applied to analyse
computations in neural systems and (independently) that the basic ideas can
also be used to solve engineering tasks such as the design of nonlinear
controllers. Using an illustrative example we will develop the main ideas of
the proposed model. This illustrative example is generalized and cast into a
rigorous mathematical model: the Liquid State Machine. A mathematical
analysis shows that there are in principle no computational limitations of
liquid state machines in the domain of time series computing. Finally we
discuss several successful applications of the framework in the area of
computational neuroscience and in the field of artificial neural networks.