mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

Upper Bounds for Local Learning Coefficients of Three-Layer Neural Networks

arXiv 2603.12785 ↗First posted 13 Mar 2026cs.LG math.ST stat.THcited by 1

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Abstract (arXiv)

Three-layer neural networks are known to form singular learning models, and their Bayesian asymptotic behavior is governed by the learning coefficient, or real log canonical threshold. Although this quantity has been clarified for regular models and for some special singular models, broadly applicable methods for evaluating it in neural networks remain limited. Recently, a formula for the local learning coefficient of semiregular models was proposed, yielding an upper bound on the learning coefficient. However, this formula applies only to nonsingular points in the set of realization parameters and cannot be used at singular points. In particular, for three-layer neural networks, the resulting upper bound has been shown to differ substantially from learning coefficient values already known in some cases. In this paper, we derive a formula for an upper bound on local learning coefficients at a class of singular realization parameters in three-layer neural networks. This formula can be interpreted as a counting rule under budget, demand, and supply constraints. In the non-polynomial real-analytic case, the formula applies in general settings, whereas in the polynomial case it applies under the restriction that the true distribution has no hidden units. In particular, our result covers activation functions such as the swish function and also includes polynomial activation functions under the above restriction, thereby extending previous results to a broader class of activation functions. We further show that, when the input dimension is one, the numerical value given by the right-hand side of our upper-bound formula agrees with the previously known learning coefficient, thereby providing a useful comparison with known exact results. Our result also provides a systematic perspective on how the weight parameters of three-layer neural networks affect the learning coefficient.

Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 7 of its 49 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 13 Mar 2026.

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7 of 49 references.

References · 7

  1. 2023The Local Learning Coefficient: A Singularity-Aware Complexity Measurecited by 51
  2. 2024Loss Landscape Degeneracy and Stagewise Development in Transformerscited by 40
  3. 2024Differentiation and Specialization of Attention Heads via the Refined Local Learning Coefficientcited by 40
  4. 2013A Bayesian information criterion for singular modelscited by 22
  5. 2014Marginal likelihood and model selection for Gaussian latent tree and forest modelscited by 12
  6. 2019Estimating Real Log Canonical Thresholdscited by 9
  7. 2022Asymptotic Behavior of Bayesian Generalization Error in Multinomial Mixturescited by 9

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