4,675 research outputs found
Bayesian Deep Net GLM and GLMM
Deep feedforward neural networks (DFNNs) are a powerful tool for functional
approximation. We describe flexible versions of generalized linear and
generalized linear mixed models incorporating basis functions formed by a DFNN.
The consideration of neural networks with random effects is not widely used in
the literature, perhaps because of the computational challenges of
incorporating subject specific parameters into already complex models.
Efficient computational methods for high-dimensional Bayesian inference are
developed using Gaussian variational approximation, with a parsimonious but
flexible factor parametrization of the covariance matrix. We implement natural
gradient methods for the optimization, exploiting the factor structure of the
variational covariance matrix in computation of the natural gradient. Our
flexible DFNN models and Bayesian inference approach lead to a regression and
classification method that has a high prediction accuracy, and is able to
quantify the prediction uncertainty in a principled and convenient way. We also
describe how to perform variable selection in our deep learning method. The
proposed methods are illustrated in a wide range of simulated and real-data
examples, and the results compare favourably to a state of the art flexible
regression and classification method in the statistical literature, the
Bayesian additive regression trees (BART) method. User-friendly software
packages in Matlab, R and Python implementing the proposed methods are
available at https://github.com/VBayesLabComment: 35 pages, 7 figure, 10 table
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