"Successful connects logistic regression and linear discriminant analysis, thus making it critical reference and self-study guide for students and professionals alike in the fields of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and electrical engineering." (Mathematical Reviews)

This book presents a statistical treatment of the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), which is the most widely used of the neural network models, in a language that is familiar to practicing statisticians. Questions arise when statisticians are first confronted with such a model, and this book's aim is to provide thorough answers. The following are a few questions that are considered in this book and are explored: how robust is the model to outliers, could the model be made more robust, which points will have a high leverage, what are good starting values for the fitting algorithm, etc. Discussions include the use of MLP models with spatial data as well as the influence and sensitivity curves of the MLP. The question of why the MLP is a (fairly) robust model is answered and modifications to make it very robust are considered.

An accessible and up-to-date treatment featuring the connection between neural networks and statistics

A Statistical Approach to Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition presents a

statistical treatment of the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), which is the most widely used of the neural network models. This book aims to answer questions that arise when statisticians are first confronted with this type of model, such as:

How robust is the model to outliers?

Could the model be made more robust?

Which points will have a high leverage?

What are good starting values for the fitting algorithm?

Thorough answers to these questions and many more are included, as well as worked examples and selected problems for the reader. Discussions on the use of MLP models with spatial and spectral data are also included. Further treatment of highly important principal aspects of the MLP are provided, such as the robustness of the model in the event of outlying or atypical data; the influence and sensitivity curves of the MLP; why the MLP is a fairly robust model; and modifications to make the MLP more robust. The author also provides clarification of several misconceptions that are prevalent in existing neural network literature.

Throughout the book, the MLP model is extended in several directions to show that a statistical modeling approach can make valuable contributions, and further exploration for fitting MLP models is made possible via the R and S-PLUS® codes that are available on the book's related Web site. A Statistical Approach to Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition successfully connects logistic regression and linear discriminant analysis, thus making it a critical reference and self-study guide for students and professionals alike in the fields of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and electrical engineering.

About the Author

Robert A. Dunne, PhD, is Research Scientist in the Mathematical and Information Sciences Division of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in North Ryde, Australia. Dr. Dunne received his PhD from Murdoch University, and his research interests include remote sensing and bioinformatics.