1. A pattern recognition system comprising a memory; one or more processors; logic operable to cause the one or more processors to: receive, in a learning process, a plurality of input vectors; iteratively process the input vectors to compute a knowledge map, wherein the processing comprises determining whether an input vector falls within an influence field of an existing knowledge element of the knowledge map; if so, initially rejecting the input vector; if not, entering the input vector into the knowledge map as a knowledge element and conditionally adjusting one or more influence fields of other knowledge elements; and further computing the knowledge map by processing one or more of the initially rejected input vectors.