In a pattern recognition apparatus, a local area recognition module is constructed with operation elements having predetermined operation characteristics. Pattern data of a predetermined size in input data is acquired by time-sequentially performing inputting process at a plurality of times via a local area scanning unit, and information indicating the position of pattern data in the input data is output. The local area recognition module detects a feature of a predetermined middle-order or high-order category from the pattern data. A consolidation module time-sequentially consolidates outputs from the local area recognition module on the basis of the position information and the category of the feature thereby producing feature detection map information. A judgment unit outputs position information and category information of a high-order feature present in the input data, on the basis of the output from the time-sequential consolidation module.