Adaptive Neuro-Symbolic framework with dynamic contextual reasoning: A novel framework for semantic understanding
Idowu Paul Okuwobi, Jingyuan Liu, Olayinka Susan Raji, Olusola Funsho Abiodun · Mathematical Biosciences & Engineering · 2025
Despite significant advances in image processing, achieving human-like semantic understanding and explainability remains a formidable challenge. Current deep learning models excel at feature extraction but lack the ability to reason about relationships, interpret context, or provide transparent decision-making. To address these limitations, we propose the adaptive neuro-symbolic framework with dynamic contextual reasoning (ANS-DCR), a novel architecture that seamlessly integrates neural networks with symbolic reasoning. ANS-DCR introduces four key innovations: 1) A contextual embedding layer (CEL) that dynamically converts neural features into structured symbolic embeddings tailored to the scene's context; 2) hierarchical knowledge graphs (HKGs) that encode multi-level object relationships and update in real-time on the basis of neural feedback; 3) an adaptive reasoning engine (ARE) that performs scalable, context-aware logical reasoning; and 4) an explainable decision-making module (EDM) that generates human-readable explanations, including counterfactuals, enhancing interpretability. This framework bridges the gap between pattern recognition and logical reasoning, enabling deeper semantic understanding and dynamic adaptability. We demonstrate ANS-DCR's efficacy in complex scenarios such as autonomous driving, where it accurately interprets traffic scenes, predicts behaviors, and provides clear explanations for decisions. Experimental results show superior performance in semantic segmentation, contextual reasoning, and explainability compared with state-of-the-art methods. By combining the strengths of neural and symbolic paradigms, ANS-DCR sets a new benchmark for intelligent, transparent, and scalable image processing systems, offering transformative potential for applications in robotics, healthcare, and beyond. The source code of the proposed ANS-DCR is at github.com/livingjesus/ANS-DCR.