Abstract: A synaptic processor for use in a neural network produces a result signal in response to an input signal. The synaptic processor initializes an input expectation and receives an input signal. The synaptic processor determines a net modification to the the input expectation. The net modification to the input expectation has an increase term and a decrease term. The increase term is determined as a function of the input signal. The decrease term is independent of the magnitude of the input signal and is a function of a decay constant. The synaptic processor produces a result signal in response to the input expectation.