How LLMs Learn to Reason: A Complex Network Perspective

arXiv — cs.LGMonday, November 24, 2025 at 5:00:00 AM
  • Recent research has revealed that large language models (LLMs) trained with Reinforcement Learning with Verifiable Rewards (RLVR) exhibit unique behaviors, including a two-stage learning curve and vulnerability to catastrophic forgetting. This study proposes that these behaviors stem from the topological evolution of the latent reasoning graph in semantic space, linking a 1.5B-parameter LLM to a minimal Concept Network Model (CoNet).
  • Understanding these emergent phenomena is crucial for enhancing the reasoning capabilities of LLMs, which are increasingly utilized in various applications, from natural language processing to decision-making systems. The insights gained could lead to more robust and efficient models that better mimic human reasoning.
  • This development highlights ongoing challenges in LLM training, such as the balance between local skill optimization and global network coherence. Additionally, it raises questions about the effectiveness of current reinforcement learning strategies and the need for innovative approaches, such as in-model interpreted reasoning languages and fine-grained reward optimization, to improve LLM performance.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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