Cited by 77Neural dynamics and brain functionNeural Networks and ApplicationsBayesian Modeling and Causal Inference

Efficient probabilistic inference in generic neural networks trained with non-probabilistic feedback

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Orhan, A. Emin, Ma, Wei Ji·2017·Nature Communications

Abstract

Animals perform near-optimal probabilistic inference in a wide range of psychophysical tasks. Probabilistic inference requires trial-to-trial representation of the uncertainties associated with task variables and subsequent use of this representation. Previous work has implemented such computations using neural networks with hand-crafted and task-dependent operations. We show that generic neural networks trained with a simple error-based learning rule perform near-optimal probabilistic inference in nine common psychophysical tasks. In a probabilistic categorization task, error-based learning in a generic network simultaneously explains a monkey’s learning curve and the evolution of qualitative aspects of its choice behavior. In all tasks, the number of neurons required for a given level of performance grows sublinearly with the input population size, a substantial improvement on previous implementations of probabilistic inference. The trained networks develop a novel sparsity-based probabilistic population code. Our results suggest that probabilistic inference emerges naturally in generic neural networks trained with error-based learning rules.

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    “The representation of probability distributions in neuronal populations has been explored theoretically and experimentally105,106.”

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  1. [22]Glorot X Bordes A Bengio Y Deep sparse rectifier neural networks AISTATS 2011 15 315 323

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Authors
Orhan, A. E., & Ma, W. J.
Affiliations
New York University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Orhan, A. Emin
  • Ma, Wei Ji
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2017-07-26
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
138-138
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2415248019
Cited by
77
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3
FWCI
4.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
National Eye Institute (R01EY020958)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Neural Networks and Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Bayesian Modeling and Causal Inference
Keywords
probabilistic inference, error-based learning, learning curve, choice behavior
MeSH terms
Algorithms, Animals, Haplorhini, Choice Behavior, Humans, Learning, Models, Neurological, Models, Psychological, Nerve Net, Neurons, Probability, Psychomotor Performance, Feedback, Physiological, Feedback, Psychological

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