Information Geometric Self-Organization at the Edge of Stability in High-Capacity Kernel Associative Memories

Abstract:High-capacity associative memories based on Kernel Logistic Regression (KLR) exhibit exceptional storage capabilities and robustness. Previous empirical studies identified a hyperparameter regime, the "Ridge of Optimization," where attractor stability is maximized. However, the geometric nature of this regime and the optimization dynamics required to reach it have remained unclear. In this paper, we investigate the static geometry of the parameter space and the learning trajectory of Gradient Descent (GD) in KLR-trained Hopfield networks. Using the eigenvalue spectrum of the Hessian, we reveal that the Ridge corresponds to a phase boundary located adjacent to a rank-1 spectral collapse, acting as a geometric singularity where the principal curvature is massively amplified. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the learning dynamics exhibit a transient self-stabilizing behavior driven by the Edge of Stability (EoS) phenomenon. Rather than seeking flat regions, the network parameters are driven toward a state where the local curvature dynamically equilibrates near the stability limit dictated by the learning rate, allowing the optimization to survive the initial instability. We provide analytical derivations for both the rank-1 asymptotic collapse and the dynamic feedback loop governing this equilibration. These findings suggest that optimal, high-capacity memory representations are not formed in flat minima, but are dynamically sculpted at the highly curved boundaries of geometric singularities.

Machine Learning (cs.LG); Neural and Evolutionary Computing (cs.NE)

arXiv:2609.16827 [cs.LG]

(or arXiv:2609.16827v1 [cs.LG] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.16827 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

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