We study the topology of learned representations in predictive coding networks (PCNs), a neuro-inspired bidirectional architecture, using a quantitative layer-wise persistent homology analysis. We train well-performing PCNs on a synthetic classification dataset ($\geq 99.
arXiv:2606. 00073v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We investigate how internal representations emerge across hierarchical processing systems by introducing a neuroscience-inspired framework for analyzing deep spiking neural networks (SNN) through the lens of functional connectivity.
By Aditi Aravind, Konstantinos Ladakis, Mario Alexios Savaglio, Stelios M. Smirnakis, Maria Papadopouli
arXiv:2604. 00208v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Comparing internal representations is a central goal in neuroscience and machine learning, but standard linear alignment metrics (Representational Similarity Analysis, Centered Kernel Alignment, and linear regression) are frequently applied to neural activity coordinates rather than on the underlying features.
By Sunny Liu, Habon Issa, Andr\'e Longon, Liv Gorton, Meenakshi Khosla, Alex Williams, David Klindt
We investigate how each component of the Transformer feedforward block architecture design determines how much rank survives across depth at initialization. We reinterpret skip connections and normalization, long understood as controlling magnitude, as mechanisms for preserving gradient rank across depth, since the very matrix multiplications and nonlinear activations that make the network expressive also reduce the rank.
arXiv:2604. 00230v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Neural collapse (NC) -- the convergence of penultimate-layer features to a simplex equiangular tight frame -- is well understood at equilibrium, but the dynamics governing its onset remain poorly characterised.
By Anamika Paul Rupa
arXiv:2606. 31856v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We study layered models, including feedforward networks, ResNets, and transformers, by limiting each layer to a width of $d = 3$, i.
By Junyu Ren, Lek-Heng Lim