Constructing and training feed-forward neural networks for pattern classification

A new approach of constructing and training neural networks for pattern classification is proposed. Data clusters are generated and trained sequentially based on distinct local subsets of the training data. Obtained clusters are then used to construct a feed-forward network, which is further trained using standard algorithms operating on the global training set. The network obtained using this approach effectively inherits the knowledge from the local training procedure before improving on its generalization ability through the subsequent global training. Various experiments demonstrate the superiority of this approach over competing methods. (C) 2002 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.