Self-organizing circuits to receive input signals from transducers and the like and operable, under guidance from modifying inputs thereto, operate in a learning mode and systems embodying such self-organizing circuits. The circuits include mechanisms to change the modifying inputs based upon Boolean functions and further mechanisms to change the modifying inputs based upon competition among the input signals. The circuits have time delays which allow identification of time-varying patterns. The circuits also further mechanisms to change the modifying inputs based on a balance of inhibitory and excitory influences on subcircuits and based on changes in the messages between subcircuits.