Statistical physics of learning vector quantization
PhD ceremony: Mr. A.W. Witoelar, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Thesis: Statistical physics of learning vector quantization
Promotor(s): prof. M. Biehl, prof. N. Petkov
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
The field of machine learning concerns the design of algorithms to learn and recognize complex patterns from data. Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) constitutes an important family of such algorithms using prototypes which serve as typical examples. Despite its wide range of applications, the theoretical understanding of LVQ in general remains very limited. In this thesis a theoretical framework is constructed using concepts from statistical physics which allows for an exact analysis of the typical learning behaviors of the system. Studies in this thesis compare the characteristics of various LVQ algorithms to demonstrate the robustness of Neural Gas (NG) schemes and the specific advantages of LVQ 2.1 and Robust Soft LVQ algorithms. Furthermore surprising non-trivial behaviors are revealed including learning plateaus and phase transitions in the training process. The results provide insights to general prototype-based learning prescriptions.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.13 a.m. |
More news
-
18 July 2024
Smart robots to make smaller chips
A robotic arm in a factory that repeatedly executes the same movement: that’s a thing of the past, states Ming Cao. Researchers of the University of Groningen are collaborating with high-tech companies to make production processes more autonomous.
-
17 July 2024
Veni-grants for ten researchers
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a Veni grant of up to €320,000 each to ten researchers of the University of Groningen and the UMCG. The Veni grants are designed for outstanding researchers who have recently gained a PhD.
-
15 July 2024
Funding for RUG researchers from National Growth Fund programme Circular Plastics NL
For research on making plastics circular, Professors Patrizio Raffa and Katja Loos together receive about 1.2 million euros from the National Growth Fund programme Circular Plastics NL.