The combined use of self-organizing maps and Andrews' Curves

Int J Neural Syst. 2005 Jun;15(3):197-206. doi: 10.1142/S0129065705000207.

Abstract

The use of self-organizing maps to analyze data often depends on finding effective methods to visualize the SOM's structure. In this paper we propose a new way to perform that visualization using a variant of Andrews' Curves. Also we show that the interaction between these two methods allows us to find sub-clusters within identified clusters. Perhaps more importantly, using the SOM to pre-process data by identifying gross features enables us to use Andrews' Curves on data sets which would have previously been too large for the methodology. Finally we show how a three way interaction between the human user and these two methods can be a valuable exploratory data analysis tool.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Classification
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical*
  • Eukaryota / classification
  • Models, Neurological*