1. A neural network assembly, comprising: a memory region for storing reference patterns and categories of said reference patterns; an adaptive input region, having region cells, for adaptively processing input patterns having disturbances into processed patterns with said disturbances removed, said adaptive input region being trainable to remove said disturbances by adjustment of said region cells of said adaptive input region by resilient interconnection; a pattern associator neural network, selectively coupled to said memory region and said adaptive input region, for recognizing patterns in said processed patterns corresponding to said reference patterns and for producing a recognition result representative of at least one of said categories;. a training and recognition controlling unit, coupled to said memory region and said pattern associator neural network, for training said pattern associator neural network to correctly produce said recognition result and coupled to said adaptive input region for training said adaptive input region to remove said disturbances by said adjustment of said region cells by resilient interconnection; wherein said training and recognition controlling unit provides a training phase of operation and a recognition phase of operation of said pattern associator neural network, said recognition phase following said training phase; and further comprising a switching network for coupling said pattern associator neural network to said memory region during said training phase and for coupling said pattern associator neural network to said adaptive input region during said recognition phase.