Learning in Convolutional Neural Networks Accelerated by Integrating Transfer Entropy

Core Concepts

Integrating transfer entropy (TE) feedback connections into the training process of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can accelerate the training process and improve the classification accuracy, at the cost of increased computational overhead.

Abstract

The paper explores how to include transfer entropy (TE) in the learning mechanisms of convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures. TE is used to quantify the directional information transfer between neurons in different layers of the CNN. Key highlights: TE can be used to measure the causal relationships and information flow between artificial neurons in a feedforward neural network. The authors introduce a novel training mechanism for CNNs that integrates TE feedback connections between neurons. Adding the TE feedback parameter accelerates the training process, as fewer epochs are needed to reach a target accuracy. However, it also adds computational overhead to each epoch. The authors find that it is efficient to consider only the inter-neural information transfer of a random subset of neuron pairs from the last two fully connected layers of the CNN. The TE acts as a smoothing factor, becoming active only periodically during training, which helps generate stability. Experiments are conducted on several benchmark image classification datasets, including CIFAR-10, FashionMNIST, STL-10, SVHN, and USPS.

Stats

Applying the TE feedback mechanism to the CIFAR-10 dataset, the target 98% accuracy was reached in 5 epochs, compared to 6 epochs without TE. For the FashionMNIST dataset, the target 97% accuracy was reached in 23 epochs with TE, compared to 28 epochs without TE. On the STL-10 dataset, the target 98% accuracy was reached in 5 epochs with TE, compared to 7 epochs without TE. For the SVHN dataset, the target 94% accuracy was reached in 9 epochs with TE, compared to 11 epochs without TE. On the USPS dataset, the target 99% accuracy was reached in 3 epochs with or without TE.

Quotes

"Adding the TE feedback parameter accelerates the training process, as fewer epochs are needed. On the flip side, it adds computational overhead to each epoch." "According to our experiments, it is efficient to consider only the inter-neural information transfer of a random subset of the neuron pairs from the last two fully connected layers." "The TE acts as a smoothing factor, becoming active only periodically during training, which helps generate stability."

Key Insights Distilled From

Learning in Convolutional Neural Networks Accelerated by Transfer Entropy

by Adri... at arxiv.org 04-05-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.02943.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can the computational overhead of the TE calculations be further reduced without significantly impacting the performance gains

To reduce the computational overhead of Transfer Entropy (TE) calculations without compromising performance gains, several strategies can be implemented: Selective Pairing: Instead of computing TE values for all possible pairs of neurons, a selective pairing approach can be adopted. By focusing on specific pairs of neurons that have a higher impact on the learning process, the number of TE calculations can be reduced. Optimized Window Length: Experimenting with the length of the time series used for TE calculations can help find an optimal window length that balances computational efficiency with performance. By adjusting the window length based on the specific dataset and network architecture, unnecessary computations can be avoided. Batch Processing: Implementing batch processing for TE calculations can help streamline the computation process. By computing TE values for batches of training samples instead of individual samples, the overall computational load can be reduced. Parallel Processing: Utilizing parallel processing techniques can distribute the computational workload across multiple processors or GPUs, speeding up the TE calculations and reducing the overall processing time. Dynamic Thresholding: Adjusting the binarization threshold dynamically based on the network's learning progress can help optimize the TE calculations. By fine-tuning the threshold value during training, unnecessary computations can be minimized. By implementing these strategies and potentially exploring new approaches tailored to the specific requirements of the neural network and dataset, the computational overhead of TE calculations can be further reduced while maintaining or even enhancing the performance gains.

What other neural network architectures, beyond CNNs, could benefit from the integration of TE feedback connections in the training process

Beyond Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), other neural network architectures that could benefit from the integration of TE feedback connections in the training process include: Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs): RNNs, known for their sequential data processing capabilities, could leverage TE feedback connections to enhance information flow analysis between recurrent units. This could improve the understanding of temporal dependencies and causal relationships within the network. Graph Neural Networks (GNNs): GNNs operate on graph-structured data and could benefit from TE feedback connections to analyze information flow between nodes in the graph. This could lead to improved insights into how information propagates through the graph layers. Autoencoders: Autoencoders, used for unsupervised learning and dimensionality reduction, could utilize TE feedback connections to enhance the reconstruction process and capture more meaningful latent representations. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): GANs, used for generating synthetic data, could integrate TE feedback connections to improve the stability and convergence of the training process by analyzing the information flow between the generator and discriminator networks. By incorporating TE feedback connections into these diverse neural network architectures, a deeper understanding of information transfer dynamics and causal relationships within the networks can be achieved, leading to enhanced performance and interpretability.

Can the insights gained from the TE-based analysis of information flow in CNNs be leveraged to improve the interpretability and explainability of these deep learning models

The insights gained from Transfer Entropy (TE)-based analysis of information flow in Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can be leveraged to improve the interpretability and explainability of these deep learning models in the following ways: Feature Abstraction Interpretation: By analyzing the TE values between different layers of a CNN, researchers can gain insights into how features are abstracted and transformed across the network. This can help in understanding which features are crucial for classification decisions. Causal Relationship Identification: TE can reveal the causal relationships between neurons in different layers, shedding light on the flow of information and the impact of specific neurons on the final output. This can provide a more interpretable view of the decision-making process of the CNN. Model Debugging and Optimization: TE analysis can help in identifying redundant connections or layers within the CNN that do not contribute significantly to the learning process. By pruning these connections based on TE values, the model can be optimized for better performance and interpretability. Visualizing Information Flow: Visual representations of TE values and information flow within the CNN can aid in explaining how data is processed and transformed at each layer. This can make the decision-making process of the CNN more transparent and understandable. Overall, leveraging TE-based analysis in CNNs can not only enhance their performance but also provide valuable insights for improving their interpretability and explainability, making them more accessible and trustworthy for real-world applications.