Multistability of competitive neural networks with time-varying and distributed delays

In this paper, with two classes of general activation functions, we investigate the multistability of competitive neural networks with time-varying and distributed delays. By formulating parameter conditions and using inequality technique, several novel delay-independent sufficient conditions ensuring the existence of 3(N) equilibria and exponential stability of 2(N) equilibria are derived. In addition, estimations of positively invariant sets and basins of attraction for these stable equilibria are obtained. Two examples are given to show the effectiveness of our theory. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.