Network motifs emerge from interconnections that favor stability

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that network motifs naturally arise from interconnection patterns that enhance the stability of individual nodes, providing an efficient mechanism for constructing stable complex systems across different scales.

Contribution

It reveals that network motifs emerge from interconnections that optimize node stability, offering a new perspective on the functional role of motifs in complex networks.

Findings

Network motifs are linked to stability-enhancing interconnection patterns.

Motifs are observed at multiple scales, from nodes to modules.

Interconnection patterns that favor stability are prevalent in real-world networks.

Abstract

Network motifs are overrepresented interconnection patterns found in real-world networks. What functional advantages may they offer for building complex systems? We show that most network motifs emerge from interconnections patterns that best exploit the intrinsic stability characteristics of individual nodes. This feature is observed at different scales in a network, from nodes to modules, suggesting an efficient mechanism to stably build complex systems.