# Fitting a model¶

We can fit a model to individual participant data in a free-recall dataset by maximizing the probability of the data according to the model. This involves using a search algorithm to adjust the model parameters until the probability, or likelihood (see Evaluating a model), of the data is maximized.

First, load some sample data to fit:

In [1]: from cymr import fit, parameters

In [2]: data = fit.sample_data('Morton2013_mixed').query('subject <= 3')


## Search Definition¶

Next, we need to define our search parameters. There are two types of parameters used specifically for searches:

fixed

Parameters that have a fixed value. These parameters are not searched.

free

Parameters that may vary to fit a dataset. For a search, must specify a range to be searched over.

We’ll also use two other types of parameters that set properties of the model based on a given parameter set:

dependent

Parameters that are derived from other parameters. These parameters are specified using an expression that generates them from other parameters.

weights

Parameters that define weighting of different patterns in the model.

We can organize these things by creating a Parameters object. To run a simple and fast search, we’ll fix almost all parameters and just fit one, $$\beta_\mathrm{enc}$$. For a real project, you may want to free other parameters also to fit individual differences in the primacy effect, temporal clustering, etc.

In [3]: par = parameters.Parameters()

In [4]: par.set_fixed(T=0.1, Lfc=0.15, Lcf=0.15, P1=0.2, P2=2,
...:               B_start=0.3, B_rec=0.9, X1=0.001, X2=0.25)
...:

In [5]: par.set_free(B_enc=(0, 1))

In [6]: par.set_dependent(Dfc='1 - Lfc', Dcf='1 - Lcf')


To simulate free recall using the CMR-Distributed model, we must first define pre-experimental weights for the network. For this example, we’ll define localist patterns, which are distinct for each presented item. They can be represented by an identity matrix with one entry for each item. See Evaluating a model for details.

In [7]: n_items = 768

In [8]: patterns = {'vector': {'loc': np.eye(n_items)}}

In [11]: par.set_weights('fc', weights)

In [12]: par.set_weights('cf', weights)


We can print the parameter definition to get an overview of the settings.

In [13]: print(par)
fixed:
T: 0.1
Lfc: 0.15
Lcf: 0.15
P1: 0.2
P2: 2
B_start: 0.3
B_rec: 0.9
X1: 0.001
X2: 0.25

free:
B_enc: (0, 1)

dependent:
Dfc: 1 - Lfc
Dcf: 1 - Lcf

dynamic:

sublayers:

weights:

The to_json() method of Parameters can be used to save out parameter definitions to a file. The output file uses JSON format, which is both human- and machine-readable and can be loaded later to restore search settings:
In [14]: par.to_json('parameters.json')