# Explaning with trees: interpreting CNNs using hierarchies

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.13257 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.13257/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 17 of its 35 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 19 Jun 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 17 of 17)

- [Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1512.03385/) (2015)
- [Very Deep Convolutional Networks for Large-Scale Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1409.1556/) (2014)
- [A Unified Approach to Interpreting Model Predictions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1705.07874/) (2017)
- [Axiomatic Attribution for Deep Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1703.01365/) (2017)
- [Visualizing and Understanding Convolutional Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1311.2901/) (2013)
- [Learning Important Features Through Propagating Activation Differences](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1704.02685/) (2017)
- [Interpretability Beyond Feature Attribution: Quantitative Testing with Concept Activation Vectors (TCAV)](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1711.11279/) (2017)
- [Striving for Simplicity: The All Convolutional Net](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1412.6806/) (2014)
- [Explaining Explanations: An Overview of Interpretability of Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1806.00069/) (2018)
- [Inductive Biases for Deep Learning of Higher-Level Cognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2011.15091/) (2020)
- [Explaining by Removing: A Unified Framework for Model Explanation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2011.14878/) (2020)
- [XRAI: Better Attributions Through Regions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1906.02825/) (2019)
- [Fast Edge Detection Using Structured Forests](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1406.5549/) (2014)
- [Interpretable Neural-Symbolic Concept Reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.14068/) (2023)
- [EXplainable Neural-Symbolic Learning (X-NeSyL) methodology to fuse deep learning representations with expert knowledge graphs: the MonuMAI cultural heritage use case](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.11914/) (2021)
- [Assessing Fidelity in XAI post-hoc techniques: A Comparative Study with Ground Truth Explanations Datasets](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.01961/) (2023)
- [Unsupervised discovery of Interpretable Visual Concepts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.00018/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Challenges persist in providing interpretable explanations for neural network reasoning in explainable AI (xAI). Existing methods like Integrated Gradients produce noisy maps, and LIME, while intuitive, may deviate from the model's reasoning. We introduce a framework that uses hierarchical segmentation techniques for faithful and interpretable explanations of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Our method constructs model-based hierarchical segmentations that maintain the model's reasoning fidelity and allows both human-centric and model-centric segmentation. This approach offers multiscale explanations, aiding bias identification and enhancing understanding of neural network decision-making. Experiments show that our framework, xAiTrees, delivers highly interpretable and faithful model explanations, not only surpassing traditional xAI methods but shedding new light on a novel approach to enhancing xAI interpretability.