Fine-tuning Cascade-Correlation trained feedforward network with backpropagation

Abstract

To avoid oversized feedforward networks we propose that after Cascade-Correlation learning the network is fine-tuned with backpropagation algorithm. Our experiments show that if one uses merely Cascade-Correlation learning the network may require a large number of hidden units to reach the desired error level. However, if the network is in addition fine-tuned with backpropagation method then the desired error level can be reached with much smaller number of hidden units. It is also shown that the combined Cascade-Correlation backpropagation training is a faster scheme compared to mere backpropagation training.