A synaptic connection element for connecting neuron elements inputs a plurality of pulsed signals from different neuron elements N1 through N4, effects a common modulation (time window integration or pulse phase/width modulation) on a plurality of predetermined signals among the plurality of pulse signals, and outputs the modulated pulse signals to different signal lines to a neuron element M1. A neural network for representing and processing pattern information by the pulse modulation is thereby downsized in scale.