arXiv subjects

Ali Khaledi-Nasab

Publications and source records attributed to Ali Khaledi-Nasab.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Depolarization of echo chambers by random dynamical nudge

In social networks, users often engage with like-minded peers. This selective exposure to opinions might result in echo chambers, i.e., political fragmentation and social polarization of user interactions. When echo chambers form, opinions have a bimodal distribution with two peaks on opposite sides. In certain issues, where either extreme positions contain a degree of misinformation, neutral consensus is preferable for promoting discourse. In this paper, we use an opinion dynamics model that naturally forms echo chambers in order to find a feedback mechanism that bridges these communities and leads to a neutral consensus. We introduce random dynamical nudge (RDN), which presents each agent with input from a random selection of other agents' opinions and does not require surveillance of every person's opinions. Our computational results in two different models suggest that the RDN leads to a unimodal distribution of opinions centered around the neutral consensus. Furthermore, the RDN is effective both for preventing the formation of echo chambers and also for depolarizing existing echo chambers. Due to the simple and robust nature of the RDN, social media networks might be able to implement a version of this self-feedback mechanism, when appropriate, to prevent the segregation of online communities on complex social issues.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2018

Variability of collective dynamics in random tree networks of strongly-coupled stochastic excitable elements

We study the collective dynamics of strongly diffusively coupled excitable elements on small random tree networks. Stochastic external inputs are applied to the leaves causing large spiking events. Those events propagate along the tree branches and, eventually, exciting the root node. Using Hodgkin-Huxley type nodal elements, such a setup serves as a model for sensory neurons with branched myelinated distal terminals. We focus on the influence of the variability of tree structures on the spike train statistics of the root node. We present a statistical description of random tree network and show how the structural variability translates into the collective network dynamics. In particular, we show that in the physiologically relevant case of strong coupling the variability of collective response is determined by the joint probability distribution of the total number of leaves and nodes. We further present analytical results for the strong coupling limit in which the entire tree network can be represented by an effective single element.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2017

Emergent stochastic oscillations and signal detection in tree networks of excitable elements

We study the stochastic dynamics of strongly-coupled excitable elements on a tree network. The peripheral nodes receive independent random inputs which may induce large spiking events propagating through the branches of the tree and leading to global coherent oscillations in the network. This scenario may be relevant to action potential generation in certain sensory neurons, which possess myelinated distal dendritic tree-like arbors with excitable nodes of Ranvier at peripheral and branching nodes and exhibit noisy periodic sequences of action potentials. We focus on the spiking statistics of the central node, which fires in response to a noisy input at peripheral nodes. We show that, in the strong coupling regime, relevant to myelinated dendritic trees, the spike train statistics can be predicted from an isolated excitable element with rescaled parameters according to the network topology. Furthermore, we show that by varying the network topology the spike train statistics of the central node can be tuned to have a certain firing rate and variability, or to allow for an optimal discrimination of inputs applied at the peripheral nodes.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2013

Size-dependent intersubband optical properties of dome-shaped InAs/GaAs quantum dots with wetting layer

In this work, the effect of size and wetting layer on subband electronic envelop functions, eigenenergies, linear and nonlinear absorption coefficients and refractive indices of a dome-shaped InAs/GaAs quantum dot were investigated. In our model, a dome of InAs quantum dot with its wetting layer embedded in a GaAs matrix was considered. A finite height barrier potential at the InAs/GaAs interface was assumed. To calculate envelop functions and eigenenergies, the effective one electronic band Hamiltonian and electron effective mass approximation were used. The linear and nonlinear optical properties were calculated by the density matrix formalism.

physics.optics↗