Architecture Induces Structural Invariant Manifolds of Neural Network Training Dynamics

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhao, Jiajie, Luo, Tao, Zhang, Yaoyu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Zhao, Jiajie
Luo, Tao
Zhang, Yaoyu
author_facet Zhao, Jiajie
Luo, Tao
Zhang, Yaoyu
contents While architecture is recognized as key to the performance of deep neural networks, its precise effect on training dynamics has been unclear due to the confounding influence of data and loss functions. This paper proposed an analytic framework based on the geometric control theory to characterize the dynamical properties intrinsic to a model's parameterization. We prove that the Structural Invariant Manifolds (SIMs) of an analytic model $F(\mathbfθ)(\mathbf{x})$--submanifolds that confine gradient flow trajectories independent of data and loss--are unions of orbits of the vector field family $\{\nabla_{\mathbfθ} F(\cdot)(\mathbf{x})\mid\mathbf{x}\in\mathbb{R}^d\}$. We then prove that a model's symmetry, e.g., permutation symmetry for neural networks, induces SIMs. Applying this, we characterize the hierarchy of symmetry-induced SIMs in fully-connected networks, where dynamics exhibit neuron condensation and equivalence to reduced-width networks. For two-layer networks, we prove all SIMs are symmetry-induced, closing the gap between known symmetries and all possible invariants. Overall, by establishing the framework for analyzing SIMs induced by architecture, our work paves the way for a deeper analysis of neural network training dynamics and generalization in the near future.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_09564
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Architecture Induces Structural Invariant Manifolds of Neural Network Training Dynamics
Zhao, Jiajie
Luo, Tao
Zhang, Yaoyu
Dynamical Systems
68T07, 34H05, 93C10, 93B03, 93B27
While architecture is recognized as key to the performance of deep neural networks, its precise effect on training dynamics has been unclear due to the confounding influence of data and loss functions. This paper proposed an analytic framework based on the geometric control theory to characterize the dynamical properties intrinsic to a model's parameterization. We prove that the Structural Invariant Manifolds (SIMs) of an analytic model $F(\mathbfθ)(\mathbf{x})$--submanifolds that confine gradient flow trajectories independent of data and loss--are unions of orbits of the vector field family $\{\nabla_{\mathbfθ} F(\cdot)(\mathbf{x})\mid\mathbf{x}\in\mathbb{R}^d\}$. We then prove that a model's symmetry, e.g., permutation symmetry for neural networks, induces SIMs. Applying this, we characterize the hierarchy of symmetry-induced SIMs in fully-connected networks, where dynamics exhibit neuron condensation and equivalence to reduced-width networks. For two-layer networks, we prove all SIMs are symmetry-induced, closing the gap between known symmetries and all possible invariants. Overall, by establishing the framework for analyzing SIMs induced by architecture, our work paves the way for a deeper analysis of neural network training dynamics and generalization in the near future.
title Architecture Induces Structural Invariant Manifolds of Neural Network Training Dynamics
topic Dynamical Systems
68T07, 34H05, 93C10, 93B03, 93B27
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.09564