On Variable Binding in Connectionist Networks

This paper deals with the problem of variable binding in connectionist networks. Speci cally, a more thorough solution to the variable binding problem based on the Discrete Neuron formalism is proposed and a number of issues arising in the solution are examined in relation to logic: consistency checking, binding generation, uni cation, and functions. We analyze what is needed in order to resolve these issues, and based on this analysis, a procedure is developed for systematically setting up connectionist networks for variable binding based on logic rules. This solution compares favorably to similar solutions in simplicity and completeness. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. I wish to thank Dave Waltz, James Pustejovsky, and TimHickey for many discussions that helped me to elucidate ideas contained in this paper. I am also grateful to the three anonymous reviewers for their insightful criticisms and useful suggestions. 2