arXiv AI

Multiple Descents in Deep Learning as a Sequence of Order-Chaos Transitions in LSTM Networks

arXiv:2505. 20030v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: We observe a novel `multiple-descent' phenomenon during the learning process of a recurrent neural network called long-short-term memory (LSTM) networks during its training on real-world task, in which the performance goes through long cycles of up and down trends multiple times after the model is overtrained.

arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 18

Learning-Induced Dynamical Transition in Recurrent Neural Networks

The paper presents a non-equilibrium dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) that explains how learning reshapes the dynamics of recurrent neural networks, turning initially chaotic activity into stable, task-dependent behavior. It shows that a slow, feedback-driven learning process gradually increases effective feedback strength, driving the network through a bifurcation that marks the transition from chaotic to stable dynamics. By deriving the two-time correlation function, the authors identify a critical feedback strength and a learning-rate-dependent critical time that separate these regimes, and they demonstrate that the theory accurately predicts the network’s output evolution during training, matching numerical simulations.

By Varun Vaidya
arXiv Machine Learning
Jul 27

A Defense of the Quadratic Model

arXiv:2607. 21716v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Due to the complexity of neural network loss landscapes, optimization theory is forced to rely on idealized models, and there is generally a tradeoff between how theoretically tractable the model is, and how accurately it describes the true optimization dynamics.

By Alexandru Meterez, Pranav Ajit Nair, Depen Morwani, Cengiz Pehlevan, Sham Kakade, Alex Damian
arXiv AI
Jun 9

MinMax Recurrent Neural Cascades

arXiv:2605. 06384v3 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: We introduce MinMax Recurrent Neural Cascades (MinMax RNCs), a class of recurrent neural networks built from a novel form of recurrence over the MinMax algebra.

By Alessandro Ronca
arXiv Machine Learning
Sep 17

Beyond Quadratic Loss: The Stability Phase Diagram of Adam

The paper studies how Adam’s two momentum timescales, β1 and β3, influence loss spikes during neural‑network training. By mapping training dynamics across the (β1,β3) plane, the authors find an approximately linear boundary, 1-β3 = C(1-β1), that separates spiky from non‑spiky behavior, with the coefficient C linked to the effective loss exponent in superquadratic loss functions. They also show that confident cross‑entropy losses create a core–wall landscape that behaves superquadratically at the scale of an optimizer update, explaining the observed spikes.

By Gaoxiang Tang, Huanran Chen, Ziming Liu
arXiv AI
Jun 4

MesaNet: Sequence Modeling by Locally Optimal Test-Time Training

arXiv:2506. 05233v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: Sequence modeling is currently dominated by causal transformer architectures that use softmax self-attention.

By Johannes von Oswald, Nino Scherrer, Seijin Kobayashi, Luca Versari, Songlin Yang, Sarthak Mittal, Maximilian Schlegel, Kaitlin Maile, Yanick Schimpf, Oliver Sieberling, Alexander Meulemans, Rif A. Saurous, Guillaume Lajoie, Charlotte Frenkel, Razvan Pascanu, Blaise Ag\"uera y Arcas, Jo\~ao Sacramento