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On Learning Gaussian Multi-index Models with Gradient Flow

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arxiv 2310.19793 v2 pith:APWY3XO6 submitted 2023-10-30 stat.ML cs.LGmath.OC

classification stat.MLcs.LGmath.OC
keywords flowfunctiongradientlinkdynamicsmulti-indexassociatedgaussian
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We study gradient flow on the multi-index regression problem for high-dimensional Gaussian data. Multi-index functions consist of a composition of an unknown low-rank linear projection and an arbitrary unknown, low-dimensional link function. As such, they constitute a natural template for feature learning in neural networks. We consider a two-timescale algorithm, whereby the low-dimensional link function is learnt with a non-parametric model infinitely faster than the subspace parametrizing the low-rank projection. By appropriately exploiting the matrix semigroup structure arising over the subspace correlation matrices, we establish global convergence of the resulting Grassmannian population gradient flow dynamics, and provide a quantitative description of its associated `saddle-to-saddle' dynamics. Notably, the timescales associated with each saddle can be explicitly characterized in terms of an appropriate Hermite decomposition of the target link function. In contrast with these positive results, we also show that the related \emph{planted} problem, where the link function is known and fixed, in fact has a rough optimization landscape, in which gradient flow dynamics might get trapped with high probability.

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Cited by 11 Pith papers

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    Gradient-based dataset distillation of two-layer ReLU nets on multi-index models encodes the r-dimensional principal subspace into synthetic data of memory complexity Θ̃(r²d+L) that recovers high generalization.

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    cs.LG 2025-04 conditional novelty 7.0 of 10

    In the teacher-student setting, variable-projection training of two-layer networks is shown to match a weighted ultra-fast diffusion in the zero-regularization limit, giving linear convergence of the learned feature d...

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    In Gaussian single-index models, joint gradient flow over direction and link function converges to the true regression function from either sign of initial alignment, with rate governed by the information exponent.

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    For orthogonal hidden directions, gradient flow provably sends each neuron to the nearest direction and a log-factor overparameterization suffices, but for equiangular directions with overlap above beta_c = (p*-2)/(k+...

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