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

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.

9 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Higher-order interactions shape collective dynamics differently in hypergraphs and simplicial complexes
• Propagation dynamics on networks featuring complex topologies
• A multi-type branching process method for modelling complex contagion on clustered networks

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Hyperedge overlap drives explosive collective behaviors in systems with higher-order interactions
• The simpliciality of higher-order networks
• Collective dynamics on higher-order networks
• Characteristic scales and adaptation in higher-order contagions
• Decoding how higher-order network interactions shape complex contagion dynamics
• Phase transitions for polyadic epidemic and voter models with multiscale groups
• Higher-order contagion processes in 3.99 dimensions
• Relationship between Heider links and Ising spins