A Continuum among Logarithmic, Linear, and Exponential Functions, and Its Potential to Improve Generalization in Neural Networks

Luke B. Godfrey, Michael S. Gashler

2015

Abstract

We present the soft exponential activation function for artificial neural networks that continuously interpolates between logarithmic, linear, and exponential functions. This activation function is simple, differentiable, and parameterized so that it can be trained as the rest of the network is trained. We hypothesize that soft exponential has the potential to improve neural network learning, as it can exactly calculate many natural operations that typical neural networks can only approximate, including addition, multiplication, inner product, distance, and sinusoids.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Godfrey L. and Gashler M. (2015). A Continuum among Logarithmic, Linear, and Exponential Functions, and Its Potential to Improve Generalization in Neural Networks . In Proceedings of the 7th International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management - Volume 1: KDIR, (IC3K 2015) ISBN 978-989-758-158-8, pages 481-486. DOI: 10.5220/0005635804810486

in Bibtex Style

@conference{kdir15,
author={Luke B. Godfrey and Michael S. Gashler},
title={A Continuum among Logarithmic, Linear, and Exponential Functions, and Its Potential to Improve Generalization in Neural Networks},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 7th International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management - Volume 1: KDIR, (IC3K 2015)},
year={2015},
pages={481-486},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0005635804810486},
isbn={978-989-758-158-8},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the 7th International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management - Volume 1: KDIR, (IC3K 2015)
TI - A Continuum among Logarithmic, Linear, and Exponential Functions, and Its Potential to Improve Generalization in Neural Networks
SN - 978-989-758-158-8
AU - Godfrey L.
AU - Gashler M.
PY - 2015
SP - 481
EP - 486
DO - 10.5220/0005635804810486