Abstract
We explore the dependence of performance measures, such as the generalization error and generalization consistency, on the structure and the parameterization of the prior on `rules', instanced here by the noisy linear perceptron. Using a statistical mechanics framework, we show how one may assign values to the parameters of a model for a `rule' on the basis of data instancing the rule. Information about the data, such as input distribution, noise distribution and other `rule' characteristics may be embedded in the form of general gaussian priors for improving net performance. We examine explicitly two types of general gaussian priors which are useful in some simple cases. We calculate the optimal values for the parameters of these priors and show their effect in modifying the most probable, MAP, values for the rules.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 937-945 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Neural Networks |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 1996 |
Bibliographical note
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Neural Networks. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Saad, David (1996). General gaussian priors for improved generalisation. Neural Networks, 9 (6), pp. 937-945. DOI 10.1016/0893-6080(95)00133-6Keywords
- learning and generalization
- regularizers
- priors