Colaço, David and Poldrack, Russell A. and Rumana, Aliya and Jordan, Thierault and Burnston, Daniel C. and Valk, Sofie and Haueis, Philipp and Marguiles, Daniel and Craver, Carl F. (2025) Do DNNs explain the visual system? Guidelines for a better debate about explanation. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Deep neural networks (DNNs) achieve impressive results in computer vision, translation, and text generation. They are now offered as predictively powerful models of neural systems like the ventral visual system. This raises a question that has sparked a debate in the cognitive sciences: if these models predict the neural activity of a system, do they explain how this system works? To help researchers tackle this question, we propose five guidelines: (1) define ‘explanation,’ (2) specify what about the system the model explains, (3) specify what about the model does the explaining, (4) specify how much explanatory information the model contains, and (5) clarify how much information must be intelligible, and to whom, to explain. We argue that most disagreement about whether DNNs explain divides along these guidelines. We unpack and explicate these guidelines, highlighting why we must consider them whenever we ask whether a model explains something.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Colaço, David david.colaco@lmu.de Poldrack, Russell A. russpold@stanford.edu 0000-0001-6755-0259 Rumana, Aliya aliyarumana@arizona.edu 0000-0002-4404-5193 Jordan, Thierault jo.theriault@northeastern.edu 0000-0002-4680-0172 Burnston, Daniel C. dburnsto@tulane.edu 0000-0001-8281-3256 Valk, Sofie valk@cbs.mpg.de 0000-0003-2998-6849 Haueis, Philipp philipp.haueis@uni-bielefeld.de 0000-0002-0935-9015 Marguiles, Daniel daniel.margulies@cnrs.fr 0000-0002-8880-9204 Craver, Carl F. ccraver@wustl.edu
Keywords:	Deep neural networks; explanation; mechanism; scientific models; visual cortex
Subjects:	General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Systems Neuroscience
Depositing User:	Dr. Daniel Burnston
Date Deposited:	05 Sep 2025 10:51
Last Modified:	05 Sep 2025 10:51
Item ID:	26438
Subjects:	General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Systems Neuroscience
Date:	August 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26438

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• Do DNNs explain the visual system? Guidelines for a better debate about explanation. (deposited 26 Aug 2025 13:14)
  • Do DNNs explain the visual system? Guidelines for a better debate about explanation. (deposited 05 Sep 2025 10:51) [Currently Displayed]

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