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arXiv · 2603.24746

Grokking as a Falsifiable Finite-Size Transition

Yuda Bi·Chenyu Zhang·Qiheng Wang·Vince D Calhoun
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Abstract

Grokking -- the delayed onset of generalization after early memorization -- is often described with phase-transition language, but that claim has lacked falsifiable finite-size inputs. Here we supply those inputs by treating the group order $p$ of $\mathbb{Z}_p$ as an admissible extensive variable and a held-out spectral head-tail contrast as a representation-level order parameter, then apply a condensed-matter-style diagnostic chain to coarse-grid sweeps and a dense near-critical addition audit. Binder-like crossings reveal a shared finite-size boundary, and susceptibility comparison strongly disfavors a smooth-crossover interpretation ($\Delta\mathrm{AIC}=16.8$ in the near-critical audit). Phase-transition language in grokking can therefore be tested as a quantitative finite-size claim rather than invoked as analogy alone, although the transition order remains unresolved at present.

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Yuda Bi, Chenyu Zhang, Qiheng Wang, Vince D Calhoun. 2026-03-25. Grokking as a Falsifiable Finite-Size Transition. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.24746

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