Dynamic information routing in complex networks

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Christoph Kirst - , Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, University of Göttingen, Rockefeller University (Author)
  • Marc Timme - , Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, University of Göttingen, Bernstein Center Computational Neuroscience Berlin (Author)
  • Demian Battaglia - , Aix-Marseille Université (Author)

Abstract

Flexible information routing fundamentally underlies the function of many biological and artificial networks. Yet, how such systems may specifically communicate and dynamically route information is not well understood. Here we identify a generic mechanism to route information on top of collective dynamical reference states in complex networks. Switching between collective dynamics induces flexible reorganization of information sharing and routing patterns, as quantified by delayed mutual information and transfer entropy measures between activities of a networks units. We demonstrate the power of this mechanism specifically for oscillatory dynamics and analyse how individual unit properties, the network topology and external inputs co-act to systematically organize information routing. For multi-scale, modular architectures, we resolve routing patterns at all levels. Interestingly, local interventions within one sub-network may remotely determine nonlocal network-wide communication. These results help understanding and designing information routing patterns across systems where collective dynamics co-occurs with a communication function.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number11061
JournalNature communications
Volume7
Publication statusPublished - 12 Apr 2016
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-5956-3137/work/142242455