Improving Neural Network Performance by Embedding Expert Knowledge in The Form of Rules

Abstract This paper describes the process of capturing an expert’s knowledge in the form of human understandable rules and then inserting them into a self-organizing map neural network. The Dynamic Cell Structure (DCS) is a form of self-organizing map used for many purposes, including classification and prediction. The DCS is a topology-preserving network that starts with no pre-structure, but assumes a structure once trained. This paper explores applying the DCS to analyse a social science data set that contains some of the many factors that may influence the mortality rate of a region.