The problem of learning by example as applied to neural networks can be considered equivalent to a multivariate function approximation problem in many cases.
Local approximation is based on nearest neighbour techniques.
No major local minima problem. Memory requirements can be reduced by removing training data from regions with little uncertainty . CART,MARS,andHMEarelocal approximation models where the input space is divided into a hierarchy of regions where simple surfaces are fit to the local data. We ran simulations on the following datasets using a single nearest neighbour model, a local linear approximation model with a range of neighbourhood sizes, and anMLPwith a range of hidden node numbers. A time delay differential equation proposed as a model of white blood cell production.