Dynamics of link states in complex networks: the case of a majority rule

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2012 Dec;86(6 Pt 2):066113. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.86.066113. Epub 2012 Dec 17.

Abstract

Motivated by the idea that some characteristics are specific to the relations between individuals and not to the individuals themselves, we study a prototype model for the dynamics of the states of the links in a fixed network of interacting units. Each link in the network can be in one of two equivalent states. A majority link-dynamics rule is implemented, so that in each dynamical step the state of a randomly chosen link is updated to the state of the majority of neighboring links. Nodes can be characterized by a link heterogeneity index, giving a measure of the likelihood of a node to have a link in one of the two states. We consider this link-dynamics model in fully connected networks, square lattices, and Erdös-Renyi random networks. In each case we find and characterize a number of nontrivial asymptotic configurations, as well as some of the mechanisms leading to them and the time evolution of the link heterogeneity index distribution. For a fully connected network and random networks there is a broad distribution of possible asymptotic configurations. Most asymptotic configurations that result from link dynamics have no counterpart under traditional node dynamics in the same topologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Behavior*
  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Communication*
  • Humans
  • Language
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Probability
  • Social Support
  • Time Factors