arXiv:2509.21163cs.AI2025-09

大模型处理生僻词靠分布式协作,而非模块化分工。

Distributed Specialization: Rare-Token Neurons in Large Language Models

  • 生僻词由分散但协同的神经元处理,形成三阶段影响层级。
  • 特殊神经元激活模式稳定,权重相关性呈重尾分布。
  • 无需专用路由,通用注意力路径即可实现功能分化。

大型语言模型(LLMs)在表示和生成重要但稀有的词汇时表现不佳。我们系统分析了多个模型系列的最终层MLP神经元,发现稀有词汇处理通过分布式专业化机制实现:功能协调但空间分散的子网络,遵循三种组织原则。第一,识别出可重复的三阶段影响层级,包括高影响力平台神经元(即稀有词神经元)、幂律衰减神经元和贡献最小的神经元,该结构在常见词处理中不存在。第二,平台神经元表现出协调激活模式(有效维度降低),但仍保持空间分散,未形成离散聚类。第三,这些特殊机制可通过标准注意力路径普遍实现,无需专用路由电路。训练动态显示,功能专业化通过参数差异化逐步形成,专业神经元发展出越来越重尾的权重相关性谱,符合重尾自正则化特征。结果表明,LLMs通过共享架构内的分布式协调处理稀有词,而非专家混合式模块化。该研究为可解释模型编辑、计算效率优化及理解Transformer网络中的涌现功能组织提供洞见。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Large language models (LLMs) struggle with representing and generating rare tokens despite their importance in specialized domains. We investigate whether LLMs develop internal specialization mechanisms through discrete modular architectures or distributed parameter-level differentiation. Through systematic analysis of final-layer MLP neurons across multiple model families, we discover that rare-token processing emerges via \textit{distributed specialization}: functionally coordinated but spatially distributed subnetworks that exhibit three distinct organizational principles. First, we identify a reproducible three-regime influence hierarchy comprising highly influential plateau neurons(also termed as rare-token neurons), power-law decay neurons, and minimally contributing neurons, which is absent in common-token processing. Second, plateau neurons demonstrate coordinated activation patterns (reduced effective dimensionality) while remaining spatially distributed rather than forming discrete clusters. Third, these specialized mechanisms are universally accessible through standard attention pathways without requiring dedicated routing circuits. Training dynamics reveal that functional specialization emerges gradually through parameter differentiation, with specialized neurons developing increasingly heavy-tailed weight correlation spectra consistent with Heavy-Tailed Self-Regularization signatures. Our findings establish that LLMs process rare-tokens through distributed coordination within shared architectures rather than mixture-of-experts-style modularity. These results provide insights for interpretable model editing, computational efficiency optimization, and understanding emergent functional organization in transformer networks.

大模型稀有词分布式神经机制

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