Why VLSI implementations of associative VLCNs require connection multiplexing

A discussion is presented of some of the implementation constraints imposed on VLSI architectures for emulations of very large connectionist/neural networks (VLCNs). Specifically, the authors show that multiplexing of interconnections is necessary for networks exhibiting poor locality. They show that it is more feasible to build a VLCN system with sharing or multiplexing of interconnections than to build one with dedicated wires for each connection. This is true unless the network exhibits extreme locality and all CNs are connected to others within some small-radius region. Unfortunately, association requires some global connectivity.<>