Algorithmic Analysis of Dense Associative Memory: Finite-Size Guarantees and Adversarial Robustness

arXiv cs.LG / 4/15/2026

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Key Points

  • The paper studies Dense Associative Memory (DAM), a Hopfield-network generalization with higher-order interactions, focusing on storage capacity scaling like O(N^{n-1}) under pattern-separation assumptions.
  • It provides the first finite-N, algorithmic guarantees for DAM retrieval dynamics, including explicit geometric (logarithmic-time) convergence after the trajectory enters the basin of attraction.
  • The authors derive adversarial robustness bounds using an explicit margin condition that quantifies how many corrupted bits per sweep can be tolerated under bounded-interference at high loading.
  • They establish worst-case capacity guarantees of Θ(N^{n-1}) up to polylogarithmic factors and show the classical Θ(N^{n-1}) scaling is recovered for random pattern ensembles.
  • The retrieval dynamics are also interpreted as a potential game, offering an equilibrium-theoretic explanation for convergence to pure Nash equilibria under asynchronous updates.

Abstract

Dense Associative Memory (DAM) generalizes Hopfield networks through higher-order interactions and achieves storage capacity that scales as O(N^{n-1}) under suitable pattern separation conditions. Existing dynamical analyses primarily study the thermodynamic limit N\to\infty with randomly sampled patterns and therefore do not provide finite-size guarantees or explicit convergence rates. We develop an algorithmic analysis of DAM retrieval dynamics that yields finite-N guarantees under explicit, verifiable pattern conditions. Under a separation assumption and a bounded-interference condition at high loading, we prove geometric convergence of asynchronous retrieval dynamics, which implies O(\log N) convergence time once the trajectory enters the basin of attraction. We further establish adversarial robustness bounds expressed through an explicit margin condition that quantifies the number of corrupted bits tolerable per sweep, and derive capacity guarantees that scale as \Theta(N^{n-1}) up to polylogarithmic factors in the worst case, while recovering the classical \Theta(N^{n-1}) scaling for random pattern ensembles. Finally, we show that DAM retrieval dynamics admit a potential-game interpretation that ensures convergence to pure Nash equilibria under asynchronous updates. Complete proofs are provided in the appendices, together with preliminary experiments that illustrate the predicted convergence, robustness, and capacity scaling behavior.