用信息论度量神经坍缩,揭示模型训练中的隐藏规律。
Exploring Information-Theoretic Metrics Associated with Neural Collapse in Supervised Training
- 引入矩阵熵与互信息比,量化表征与分类头的动态交互。
- 发现矩阵熵能准确捕捉训练中信息内容变化,尤其在神经坍缩阶段。
- 适合研究模型泛化、训练动力学及预训练微调的学者参考。
本文提出矩阵熵作为分析监督学习的工具,研究数据表征与分类头向量的信息含量及其在训练过程中的动态交互。实验表明,矩阵熵能有效捕捉神经网络逼近神经坍缩时,数据表征与分类头信息含量的变化,并可作为样本间相似性稳健度量。基于此,我们提出跨模型对齐(CMA)损失,用于优化预训练模型微调。为刻画接近神经坍缩状态的网络动态,引入两个新指标:矩阵互信息比(MIR)与矩阵熵差比(HDR),理论推导出其在神经坍缩状态下的最优值。实验验证,MIR与HDR可有效解释标准监督训练、线性模式连接等现象;进一步用于分析'突现学习'(grokking)——即模型在完全拟合训练数据后长期延迟出现泛化能力的奇特现象。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
In this paper, we introduce matrix entropy as an analytical tool for studying supervised learning, investigating the information content of data representations and classification head vectors, as well as the dynamic interactions between them during the supervised learning process. Our experimental results reveal that matrix entropy effectively captures the variations in information content of data representations and classification head vectors as neural networks approach Neural Collapse during supervised training, while also serving as a robust metric for measuring similarity among data samples. Leveraging this property, we propose Cross-Model Alignment (CMA) loss to optimize the fine-tuning of pretrained models. To characterize the dynamics of neural networks nearing the Neural Collapse state, we introduce two novel metrics: the Matrix Mutual Information Ratio (MIR) and the Matrix Entropy Difference Ratio (HDR), which quantitatively assess the interactions between data representations and classification heads in supervised learning, with theoretical optimal values derived under the Neural Collapse state. Our experiments demonstrate that MIR and HDR effectively explain various phenomena in neural networks, including the dynamics of standard supervised training, linear mode connectivity. Moreover, we use MIR and HDR to analyze the dynamics of grokking, which is a fascinating phenomenon in supervised learning where a model unexpectedly exhibits generalization long after achieving training data fit.
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