Stochastic weights reinforcement learning for exploratory data analysis

Abstract

We review a new form of immediate reward reinforcement learning in which the individual unit is deterministic but has stochastic synapses. 4 learning rules have been developed from this perspective and we investigate the use of these learning rules to perform linear projection techniques such as principal component analysis, exploratory projection pursuit and canonical correlation analysis. The method is very general and simply requires a reward function which is specific to the function we require the unit to perform. We also discuss how the method can be used to learn kernel mappings and conclude by illustrating its use on a topology preserving mapping. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.