  Artificial neural networks are finding increasing use in astronomy, but
understanding the limitations of these models can be difficult. We utilize a
statistical method, a sensitivity probe, designed to complement established
methods for interpreting neural network behavior by quantifying the sensitivity
of a model's performance to various properties of the inputs. We apply this
method to neural networks trained to classify images of galaxy-galaxy strong
lenses in the Dark Energy Survey. We find that the networks are highly
sensitive to color, the simulated PSF used in training, and occlusion of light
from a lensed source, but are insensitive to Einstein radius, and performance
degrades smoothly with source and lens magnitudes. From this we identify
weaknesses in the training sets used to constrain the networks, particularly
the over-sensitivity to PSF, and constrain the selection function of the
lens-finder as a function of galaxy photometric magnitudes, with accuracy
decreasing significantly where the g-band magnitude of the lens source is
greater than 21.5 and the r-band magnitude of the lens is less than 19.

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics