ZNorm: Z-Score Gradient Normalization for Accelerating Neural Network Training

The rapid advancements in deep learning necessitate efficient training methods for deep neural networks (DNNs). As models grow in complexity, vanishing and exploding gradients impede convergence and performance. We propose Z-Score Normalization for Gradient Descent (ZNorm), an innovative technique that adjusts only the gradients to enhance training efficiency and improve model performance. ZNorm normalizes the overall gradients, providing consistent gradient scaling across layers, thereby reducing the risks of vanishing and exploding gradients. Our extensive experiments on CIFAR-10 and medical datasets demonstrate that ZNorm not only accelerates convergence but also enhances performance metrics. ZNorm consistently outperforms existing methods, achieving superior results using the same computational settings. In medical imaging applications, ZNorm improves tumor prediction and segmentation performances, underscoring its practical utility. These findings highlight ZNorm's potential as a robust and versatile tool for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of deep neural network training across a wide range of architectures and applications.