Explorations in Parallel Distributed Processing: A Handbook of Models, Programs, and Exercises by James L. McClelland.
From Chapter 1, Introduction:
Several years ago, Dave Rumelhart and I first developed a handbook to introduce others to the parallel distributed processing (PDP) framework for modeling human cognition. When it was first introduced, this framwork represented a new way of thinking about perception, memory, learning, and thought, as well as a new way of characterizing the computational mechanisms for intelligent information processing in general. Since it was first introduced, the framework has continued to evolve, and it is still under active development and use in modeling many aspects of cognition and behavior.
Our own understanding of parallel distributed processing came about largely through hands-on experimentation with these models. And, in teaching PDP to others, we discovered that their understanding was enhanced through the same kind of hands-on simulation experience. The original edition of the handbook was intended to help a wider audience gain this kind of experience. It made many of the simulation models discussed in the two PDP volumes (Rumelhart et al., 1986; McClelland et al., 1986) available in a form that is intended to be easy to use. The handbook also provided what we hoped were accessible expositions of some of the main mathematical ideas that underlie the simulation models. And it provided a number of prepared exercises to help the reader begin exploring the simulation programs.
The current version of the handbook attempts to bring the older handbook up to date. Most of the original material has been kept, and a good deal of new material has been added. All of simulation programs have been implemented or re-implemented within the MATLAB programming environment. In keeping with other MATLAB projects, we call the suite of programs we have implemented the PDPTool software.
Latest revision (Sept. 2011) is online for your perusal. A good way to develop an understanding of parallel processing.
Apologies for not seeing this before Christmas. Please consider it an early birthday present for your birthday in 2012!