Structurally Flexible Neural Networks: Evolving the Building Blocks for General Agents

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Pedersen, Joachim Winther, Plantec, Erwan, Nisioti, Eleni, Montero, Milton, Risi, Sebastian
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Pedersen, Joachim Winther
Plantec, Erwan
Nisioti, Eleni
Montero, Milton
Risi, Sebastian
author_facet Pedersen, Joachim Winther
Plantec, Erwan
Nisioti, Eleni
Montero, Milton
Risi, Sebastian
contents Artificial neural networks used for reinforcement learning are structurally rigid, meaning that each optimized parameter of the network is tied to its specific placement in the network structure. It also means that a network only works with pre-defined and fixed input- and output sizes. This is a consequence of having the number of optimized parameters being directly dependent on the structure of the network. Structural rigidity limits the ability to optimize parameters of policies across multiple environments that do not share input and output spaces. Here, we evolve a set of neurons and plastic synapses each represented by a gated recurrent unit (GRU). During optimization, the parameters of these fundamental units of a neural network are optimized in different random structural configurations. Earlier work has shown that parameter sharing between units is important for making structurally flexible neurons We show that it is possible to optimize a set of distinct neuron- and synapse types allowing for a mitigation of the symmetry dilemma. We demonstrate this by optimizing a single set of neurons and synapses to solve multiple reinforcement learning control tasks simultaneously.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2404_15193
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Structurally Flexible Neural Networks: Evolving the Building Blocks for General Agents
Pedersen, Joachim Winther
Plantec, Erwan
Nisioti, Eleni
Montero, Milton
Risi, Sebastian
Neural and Evolutionary Computing
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Artificial neural networks used for reinforcement learning are structurally rigid, meaning that each optimized parameter of the network is tied to its specific placement in the network structure. It also means that a network only works with pre-defined and fixed input- and output sizes. This is a consequence of having the number of optimized parameters being directly dependent on the structure of the network. Structural rigidity limits the ability to optimize parameters of policies across multiple environments that do not share input and output spaces. Here, we evolve a set of neurons and plastic synapses each represented by a gated recurrent unit (GRU). During optimization, the parameters of these fundamental units of a neural network are optimized in different random structural configurations. Earlier work has shown that parameter sharing between units is important for making structurally flexible neurons We show that it is possible to optimize a set of distinct neuron- and synapse types allowing for a mitigation of the symmetry dilemma. We demonstrate this by optimizing a single set of neurons and synapses to solve multiple reinforcement learning control tasks simultaneously.
title Structurally Flexible Neural Networks: Evolving the Building Blocks for General Agents
topic Neural and Evolutionary Computing
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.15193