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arXiv · 2306.11441

A triadic approximation reveals the role of interaction overlap on the spread of complex contagions on higher-order networks

Giulio Burgio·Sergio Gómez·Alex Arenas
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Abstract

Contagion processes relying on the exposure to multiple sources are prevalent in social systems, and are effectively represented by hypergraphs. In this Letter, we derive a mean-field model that goes beyond node- and pair-based approximations. We reveal how the stability of the contagion-free state is decided by either two- or three-body interactions, and how this is strictly related to the degree of overlap between these interactions. Our findings demonstrate the dual effect of increased overlap: it lowers the invasion threshold, yet produces smaller outbreaks. Corroborated by numerical simulations, our results emphasize the significance of the chosen representation in describing a higher-order process.

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Giulio Burgio, Sergio Gómez, Alex Arenas. 2023-06-20. A triadic approximation reveals the role of interaction overlap on the spread of complex contagions on higher-order networks. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.132.077401

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