揭示语言模型中间表示的因果结构,解释为何能可视化思维过程
Short Horizons and Sparse Concepts: a Mathematical View of the Readout in the J-lens

- 将J-lens视为一阶因果转移算子,用雅可比矩阵建模未来输出期望
- 发现雅可比能量分布稀疏且随深度衰减,仅少数关键路径起作用
- 提出改进策略,显著提升概念读出准确性,适合研究模型可解释性者
J-lens被提出用于从语言模型中提取可表述的中间表征,但其原理和因果结构缺乏理论分析。本文从数学角度重新审视该方法,将其视为从中间激活到未来预期输出的一阶因果转移算子。通过分析雅可比矩阵作为下游映射的最优局部线性逼近,揭示其全局近似行为与偏差,明确其数学意义为对预期未来输出的期望。进一步研究表明,雅可比能量分布具有高度稀疏性:能量随网络深度衰减,集中在极小比例的路径上,分解为对角通路与特定关键位置。这一分解将J-lens对未来的期望解析为短时程、稀疏概念预测,为解释其在思维过程中可视化概念的能力提供了更直观依据。基于此理论,我们提出一种简单而有效的改进与解耦方法,显著增强了J-lens正确读取中间概念的能力。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
The Jacobian lens (J-lens) has been proposed as a way to read verbalizable representations from language models. However, its principle and meaning lack a detailed and theoretical discussion. We provide a mathematical view of this interpretation and of its assumed causal structure. Besides treating the J-lens as a heuristic probe, we further regard it as a first-order causal transfer operator from intermediate activations to expected future readouts. We study the Jacobian matrix as the optimal local linear approximation of the downstream mapping, analyze its global approximation behavior and bias, and identify its mathematical meaning as an expectation over anticipated future readouts. Further analysis of the Jacobian energy distribution reveals that its causal geometry is highly sparse. The energy decays with depth, concentrates in an extremely small proportion, and decomposes into diagonal pathways and specific critical positions. This decomposition further resolves the expectation of the J-lens over future outputs into short-horizon and sparse concept predictions, providing a more intuitive attribution and explanation for the ability of the J-lens to visualize concepts during the thinking process. Based on the theory, we propose a simple but effective improvement strategy and decoupling method for the J-lens, which significantly enhances the ability of the J-lens to read out correct intermediate concepts.
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