Neural Logic Network Learning Using Genetic Programming

Abstract

Neural Logic Networks or Neulonets are hybrids of neural networks and expert systems capable of representing complex human logic in decision making. Each neulonet is composed of rudimentary net rules which themselves depict a wide variety of fundamental human logic rules. An early methodology employed in neulonet learning for pattern classification involved weight adjustments during back-propagation training which ultimately rendered the net rules incomprehensible. A new technique is now developed that allows the neulonet to learn by composing the net rules using genetic programming without the need to impose weight modifications, thereby maintaining the inherent logic of the net rules. Experimental results are presented to illustrate this new and exciting capability in capturing human decision logic from examples. The extraction and analysis of human logic net rules from an evolved neulonet will be discussed. These extracted net rules will be shown to provide an alternate perspective to the greater extent of knowledge that can be expressed and discovered. Comparisons will also be made to demonstrate the added advantage of using net rules, against the use of standard boolean logic of negation, disjunction and conjunction, in the realm of evolutionary computation.