Feedforward neural networks for principal components extraction
In recent times, an upsurge of interest in the study of artificial neural networks apt to computing a principal component extraction has been observed. The present work is devoted to the description and performance analysis (by means of computer simulations) of some neural networks of such a kind. The main conclusion reached is that, while the first principal component is almost always efficiently obtained, lesser components tends to be sloppily approximated. All the nets considered here share the interesting feature of being endowed with a feedforward connectivity, together with an Hebbian law of synaptic weights adjustment. Their potential usefulness as modular tools, to be inserted in more complex models of psychological and neurological functions has been suggested. There is, however, for the time being no clear evidence supporting any real biological implementation of these simple computational architectures.
principal components eigenvectors neural nets