Linear least-squares based methods for neural networks learning

This paper presents two algorithms to aid the supervised learning of feedforward neural networks. Specifically, an initialization and a learning algorithm are presented. The proposed methods are based on the independent optimization of a subnetwork using linear least squares. An advantage of these methods is that the dimensionality of the effective search space for the non-linear algorithm is reduced, and therefore it decreases the number of training epochs which are required to find a good solution. The performance of the proposed methods is illustrated by simulated examples.