A recognition apparatus is provided with a plurality of recognition units organized in a multilayered hierarchical structure. Each of the recognition units includes a signal input section, a quantizer for performing a quantization according to a signal inputted from the signal input section, and a path selecting section for performing a selection of paths according to an output from the quantizer. The path selecting section includes a path input section having at least one path input terminal, a path output section having at least one path output terminal, a load distribution selecting section for selecting a load distribution, and a load setting section for changing the strength of connection between the path input terminal and the path output terminal according to the output of the quantizer by the use of the load distribution selected by the load distribution selecting section.
