Lower bound on VC-dimension by local shattering

Abstract

We show that the VC-dimension of a smoothly parameterized function class is not less than the dimension of any manifold in the parameter space, as long as distinct parameter values induce distinct decision boundaries. A similar theorem was published recently and used to introduce lower bounds on VC-dimension for several cases (Lee, Bartlett, & Williamson, 1995). This theorem is not correct, but our theorem could replace it for those cases and many other practical ones.