Hebbian learning, also known as the Hebb Learning Rule, is a learning rule for neural networks based on the idea that when the brain learns something new, neurons are activated and connected. It involves strengthening excitatory synapses that are active when the postsynaptic cell is also active. Essentially, the weight between a sending and a receiving node increases if the two nodes are active at the same time.
Hebbian learning contributes to unsupervised learning by strengthening the neural response that is elicited by an input.
This type of learning can be useful in situations where the response made is appropriate to the context. However, it can also potentially lead to incorrect or inappropriate neural connections being made and strengthened, which could result in bad habits or poor learning.
Practical applications of Hebbian learning in neural networks include enabling the learning of the correlational structure of the environment. By strengthening synapses that are active when the postsynaptic cell is active, Hebbian learning allows neural networks to adapt and learn from the patterns in the input data. This can be particularly useful in tasks such as pattern recognition, associative memory, and self-organization in artificial intelligence systems.