1. A computer-implemented method for estimating properties of objects represented in digital images, comprising the steps of: encoding input data from a sensor in a neural map comprising neurons having numerical activation values, wherein the activation values in the neural maps have continuous time dynamics defined by an update scheme; creating, adapting and deleting weights of the neural map in unsupervised, incremental manner; transmitting data from an input map to an output map, based on the values of the weights; wherein each weight between the input map (IM) and a neural output map (OM) has a unique source and destination neuron; and wherein data transmission is directed; and detecting correlations between the input map (IM) and the output map (OM).