Neural network training relies on our ability to find "good" minimizers of highly non-convex loss functions. It is well known that certain network architecture designs (e.g., skip connections) produce loss functions that train easier, and well-chosen training parameters (batch size, learning rate, optimizer) produce minimizers that generalize better. However, the reasons for these differences, and their effect on the underlying loss landscape, is not well understood. In this paper, we explore the structure of neural loss functions, and the effect of loss landscapes on generalization, using a range of visualization methods. First, we introduce a simple "filter normalization" method that helps us visualize loss function curvature, and make meaningful side-by-side comparisons between loss functions. Then, using a variety of visualizations, we explore how network architecture affects the loss landscape, and how training parameters affect the shape of minimizers.

本文通过可视化方法探讨神经网络损失函数的结构和损失景观对泛化的影响，提出了一种简单的“滤波器归一化”方法来可视化损失函数曲率并对损失函数进行有意义的比较。然后，利用各种可视化方法，探索网络结构如何影响损失景观，以及训练参数如何影响最小化器的形状。

神经网络的损失函数可视化