TRAINING OF ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

Methods and apparatus are provided for training an artificial neural network having a succession of layers of neurons interposed with layers of synapses. A set of crossbar arrays of memristive devices, connected between row and column lines, implements the layers of synapses. Each memristive device stores a weight for a synapse interconnecting a respective pair of neurons in successive neuron layers. The training method includes performing forward propagation, backpropagation and weight-update operations of an iterative training scheme by applying input signals, associated with respective neurons, to row or column lines of the set of arrays to obtain output signals on the other of the row or column lines, and storing digital signal values corresponding to the input and output signals. The weight-update operation is performed by calculating digital weight-correction values for respective memristive devices, and applying programming signals to those devices to update the stored weights.