ABSTRACT
Fractional-order systems are valuable tools in modelling of many processes and phenomena in various fields of engineering, physics, biology and economics. This chapter treats fractional-order models with delays and impulses such as neural network models, biological models, models in the population dynamics and models in economics using the theoretical qualitative results for fractional–order systems. Neural networks have received increasing interest due to their impressive applications in many areas of science and engineering. Besides delay effects, impulsive effects are also likely to exist in the neural networks. Indeed, the state of electronic networks is often subject to instantaneous perturbations and experience abrupt changes at certain instants, which may be caused by switching phenomenon, frequency change or other sudden noise, that exhibit impulsive effects. The rapid development in the field of fractional-order equations during the last two decades invoked an increasing interest of scientists in the area of fractional-order neural networks.
