Attention Maps in 3D Shape Classification for Dental Stage Estimation with Class Node Graph Attention Networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Buyukcakir, Barkin, Fontenele, Rocharles Cavalcante, Jacobs, Reinhilde, De Tobel, Jannick, Thevissen, Patrick, Vandermeulen, Dirk, Claes, Peter
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Buyukcakir, Barkin
Fontenele, Rocharles Cavalcante
Jacobs, Reinhilde
De Tobel, Jannick
Thevissen, Patrick
Vandermeulen, Dirk
Claes, Peter
author_facet Buyukcakir, Barkin
Fontenele, Rocharles Cavalcante
Jacobs, Reinhilde
De Tobel, Jannick
Thevissen, Patrick
Vandermeulen, Dirk
Claes, Peter
contents Deep learning offers a promising avenue for automating many recognition tasks in fields such as medicine and forensics. However, the black-box nature of these models hinders their adoption in high-stakes applications where trust and accountability are required. For 3D shape recognition tasks in particular, this paper introduces the Class Node Graph Attention Network (CGAT) architecture to address this need. Applied to 3D meshes of third molars derived from CBCT images, for Demirjian stage allocation, CGAT utilizes graph attention convolutions and an inherent attention mechanism, visualized via attention rollout, to explain its decision-making process. We evaluated the local mean curvature and distance to centroid node features, both individually and in combination, as well as model depth, finding that models incorporating directed edges to a global CLS node produced more intuitive attention maps, while also yielding desirable classification performance. We analyzed the attention-based explanations of the models, and their predictive performances to propose optimal settings for the CGAT. The combination of local mean curvature and distance to centroid as node features yielded a slight performance increase with 0.76 weighted F1 score, and more comprehensive attention visualizations. The CGAT architecture's ability to generate human-understandable attention maps can enhance trust and facilitate expert validation of model decisions. While demonstrated on dental data, CGAT is broadly applicable to graph-based classification and regression tasks, promoting wider adoption of transparent and competitive deep learning models in high-stakes environments.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_07581
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Attention Maps in 3D Shape Classification for Dental Stage Estimation with Class Node Graph Attention Networks
Buyukcakir, Barkin
Fontenele, Rocharles Cavalcante
Jacobs, Reinhilde
De Tobel, Jannick
Thevissen, Patrick
Vandermeulen, Dirk
Claes, Peter
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Artificial Intelligence
68T07 68T07 68T07 (Primary) 68R10 (Secondary)
Deep learning offers a promising avenue for automating many recognition tasks in fields such as medicine and forensics. However, the black-box nature of these models hinders their adoption in high-stakes applications where trust and accountability are required. For 3D shape recognition tasks in particular, this paper introduces the Class Node Graph Attention Network (CGAT) architecture to address this need. Applied to 3D meshes of third molars derived from CBCT images, for Demirjian stage allocation, CGAT utilizes graph attention convolutions and an inherent attention mechanism, visualized via attention rollout, to explain its decision-making process. We evaluated the local mean curvature and distance to centroid node features, both individually and in combination, as well as model depth, finding that models incorporating directed edges to a global CLS node produced more intuitive attention maps, while also yielding desirable classification performance. We analyzed the attention-based explanations of the models, and their predictive performances to propose optimal settings for the CGAT. The combination of local mean curvature and distance to centroid as node features yielded a slight performance increase with 0.76 weighted F1 score, and more comprehensive attention visualizations. The CGAT architecture's ability to generate human-understandable attention maps can enhance trust and facilitate expert validation of model decisions. While demonstrated on dental data, CGAT is broadly applicable to graph-based classification and regression tasks, promoting wider adoption of transparent and competitive deep learning models in high-stakes environments.
title Attention Maps in 3D Shape Classification for Dental Stage Estimation with Class Node Graph Attention Networks
topic Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Artificial Intelligence
68T07 68T07 68T07 (Primary) 68R10 (Secondary)
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.07581