Computer systems and methods generate a stochastic categorical autoencoder learning network (SCAN). The SCAN is trained to have an encoder network that outputs, subject to one or more constraints, parameters for parametric probability distributions of sample random variables from input data. The parameters comprise measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion. The one or more constraints comprise a first constraint that constrains a measure of a magnitude of a vector of the measures of central tendency as compared to a measure of a magnitude of a vector of the measures of dispersion. Thereafter, the sample random variables are generated from the parameters and a decoder is trained to output the input data from the sample random variables.