Complex information dynamics of epidemic spreading in low-dimensional networks

TL;DR

This paper develops a general mathematical framework for modeling complex information dynamics on networks, allowing for multi-type node states, and applies it to epidemic spreading on low-dimensional networks.

Contribution

It introduces a novel vector-valued node state framework for information dynamics, extending previous models to more complex, multi-type systems.

Findings

Framework captures multi-type information evolution

Application to epidemic spreading demonstrates model's utility

Provides insights into dynamics on low-dimensional networks

Abstract

The statistical field theory of information dynamics on complex networks concerns the dynamical evolution of large classes of models of complex systems. Previous work has focused on networks where nodes carry an information field, which describes the internal state of the node, and its dynamical evolution. In this work, we propose a more general mathematical framework to model information dynamics on complex networks, where the internal node states are vector valued, thus allowing each node to carry multiple types of information. This setup is relevant for many biophysical and socio-technological models of complex systems, ranging from viral dynamics on networks to models of opinion dynamics and social contagion. The full dynamics of these systems is described in the space of all possible network configurations, as opposed to a node-based perspective. Here, we illustrate the mathematical framework presented in an accompanying letter, while focusing on an exemplary application of epidemic spreading on a low-dimensional network.