This volume contains the Proceedings of the 8th Italian Workshop on Neural Nets WIRN VIETRI-96, organized by the International Institute for Advanced Scientific Studies "Eduardo R. Caianiello" and by the Societa Italiana Reti Neuroniche (SIREN). We would like to thank Professor L.B. Almeida who agreed to deliver an invited lecture which is included in these Proceedings. The spectrum of contributors and participants covers the activity of Italian research in the field and of some European groups. The highly qualified and motivated attendance is·proof of the interest with which this annual event has met in the Italian scientific community. Maria Marinaro Roberto Tagliaferri Organizing - Scientific Committee: B. Apolloni (Univ. Milano), A. Bertoni (Univ. Milano), D.o. Caviglia (Univ. Genova), P. Campadelli (Univ. Milano), M. Ceccarelli (CNR NapolD, A. Colla (ELSAG - Genova), M. Frixione (/lASS), C. Furlanello (IRST - Trento), G.M. Guazzo (!lASS), M. Gori (Univ. Firenze), F. Lauria (Univ. Napo/D, M. Marinaro (Univ. Salerno - flASS), F. Masulli (Univ. Genova), P. Morasso (Univ. Genova), G. Orlandi (Univ. Roma), E. Pasero (Politecnico Torino), A. Petrosino (CNR Napoli), M. Protasi (Univ. Roma Ilj, S. Rampone (/lASS), R. Serra (Gruppo Ferruzzi Ravenna), F. Sorbello (Univ. Palermo), R. Stefanel.1i (Politecnico Milano), R. Tagliaferri (Univ. Salerno), R. Vaccaro (CNR Napo/D.
