Topicality. Today a large number of synchronous motors with long mean-time-between-failures operate under the conditions of industrial enterprises. They are mainly characterized by difference from the published electromagnetic parameters and degraded energy and reliability indicators, increased heating of the windings and electromagnetic vibrations, which causes a reduction in power on the shaft. Among other reasons, this is due to changes in the properties of laminated stator cores, which is the main structural element that is not replaced during repairs. Purpose. Determination of the main set of independent diagnostic parameters that would reliably distinguish the main types of defects of stator cores, first of all loosening and shorting, during their local testing using induction method and features of artificial neural networks in problems of video identification of core surface and determination of the state of synchronous motors. Metodology. The research methods of theoretical calculations of nonlinear electric circuits with non-sinusoidal power supply and methods of video identification for determination of diagnostic parameters and defects of laminated cores and the theory of neural networks in determining the current state of cores and synchronous motors in general were used during the research. Results. The obtained results specify the conditions of local testing of laminated cores from the standpoint of determining the required set of diagnostic parameters sensitive to the main types of defects, using a contactless test method, reveal the features of the use of neural network analyzers to determine the defects of the tooth zone by video identification and substantiate the principles of application of artificial neural networks in problems of predicting the states of major structural units and synchronous motors in general, due to changing properties of stator cores. Originality. The obtained results allow determining the state of the stator core and taking into account the influence of its change on the current state of synchronous motors with long or intensive operation. Practical value. The research results make it possible to assess the changes in the main parameters and characteristics of synchronous motors, determined by the actual state of the laminated stator cores and take into account their impact on energy efficiency, reliability and other operating parameters of synchronous motors. References 10, figures 7.