Findings in infant speech perception suggest that
early phonological perceptions m a y be syllabic in na-
ture, and that there is a loss of sensitivity to nonnative
contrasts toward the end of thefirst year of life. W e
present a neural network model that simulates these
two phenomena. In addition, the model and simula-
tions (1) demonstrate h o w information about stress
can be utilized in generating syllable-like percep-
tions; (2) provide a simple means of extracting static
representations firom a dynamic and co-articulated
signal; and (3) indicate that the development of "at-
tnictor" states may be necessary in network models
of these phenomena.
