Weight Thresholding on Complex Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates the robustness of group structures in real weighted networks under weight thresholding, revealing that core community features persist despite significant edge removal due to inherent topology-weight correlations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the robustness of group structures in weighted networks under thresholding and links this to the correlation between topology and weights in real networks.

Findings

Group structures remain stable under weight thresholding.

Robustness is linked to topology-weight correlation.

Other network properties vary across systems.

Abstract

Weight thresholding is a simple technique that aims at reducing the number of edges in weighted networks that are otherwise too dense for the application of standard graph theoretical methods. We show that the group structure of real weighted networks is very robust under weight thresholding, as it is maintained even when most of the edges are removed. This appears to be related to the correlation between topology and weight that characterizes real networks. On the other hand, the behavior of other properties is generally system dependent.