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Main Authors: Emedom-Nnamdi, Patrick, Smith, Timothy R., Onnela, Jukka-Pekka, Lu, Junwei
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.13135
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author Emedom-Nnamdi, Patrick
Smith, Timothy R.
Onnela, Jukka-Pekka
Lu, Junwei
author_facet Emedom-Nnamdi, Patrick
Smith, Timothy R.
Onnela, Jukka-Pekka
Lu, Junwei
contents We propose a nonparametric additive model for estimating interpretable value functions in reinforcement learning, with an application in optimizing postoperative recovery through personalized, adaptive recommendations. While reinforcement learning has achieved significant success in various domains, recent methods often rely on black-box approaches such as neural networks, which hinder the examination of individual feature contributions to a decision-making policy. Our novel method offers a flexible technique for estimating action-value functions without explicit parametric assumptions, overcoming the limitations of the linearity assumption of classical algorithms. By incorporating local kernel regression and basis expansion, we obtain a sparse, additive representation of the action-value function, enabling local approximation and retrieval of nonlinear, independent contributions of select state features and the interactions between joint feature pairs. We validate our approach through a simulation study and apply it to spine disease recovery, uncovering recommendations aligned with clinical knowledge. This method bridges the gap between flexible machine learning techniques and the interpretability required in healthcare applications, paving the way for more personalized interventions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2308_13135
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Nonparametric Additive Value Functions: Interpretable Reinforcement Learning with an Application to Surgical Recovery
Emedom-Nnamdi, Patrick
Smith, Timothy R.
Onnela, Jukka-Pekka
Lu, Junwei
Machine Learning
We propose a nonparametric additive model for estimating interpretable value functions in reinforcement learning, with an application in optimizing postoperative recovery through personalized, adaptive recommendations. While reinforcement learning has achieved significant success in various domains, recent methods often rely on black-box approaches such as neural networks, which hinder the examination of individual feature contributions to a decision-making policy. Our novel method offers a flexible technique for estimating action-value functions without explicit parametric assumptions, overcoming the limitations of the linearity assumption of classical algorithms. By incorporating local kernel regression and basis expansion, we obtain a sparse, additive representation of the action-value function, enabling local approximation and retrieval of nonlinear, independent contributions of select state features and the interactions between joint feature pairs. We validate our approach through a simulation study and apply it to spine disease recovery, uncovering recommendations aligned with clinical knowledge. This method bridges the gap between flexible machine learning techniques and the interpretability required in healthcare applications, paving the way for more personalized interventions.
title Nonparametric Additive Value Functions: Interpretable Reinforcement Learning with an Application to Surgical Recovery
topic Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.13135