Scaling in a general class of critical random Boolean networks

We show that to correctly describe the position of the critical line in the Kauffman random boolean networks one must take into account percolation phenomena underlying the process of damage spreading. For this reason, since the issue of percolation transition is much simpler in random undirected networks, than in the directed ones, we study the Kauffman model in undirected networks. We derive the mean field formula for the critical line in the giant component of these networ...

Random Threshold Networks with sparse, asymmetric connections show complex dynamical behavior similar to Random Boolean Networks, with a transition from ordered to chaotic dynamics at a critical average connectivity $K_c$. In this type of model - contrary to Boolean Networks - propagation of local perturbations (damage) depends on the in-degree of the sites. $K_c$ is determined analytically, using an annealed approximation, and the results are confirmed by numerical simulatio...

The co-evolution of network topology and dynamics is studied in an evolutionary Boolean network model that is a simple model of gene regulatory network. We find that a critical state emerges spontaneously resulting from interplay between topology and dynamics during the evolution. The final evolved state is shown to be independent of initial conditions. The network appears to be driven to a random Boolean network with uniform in-degree of two in the large network limit. Howev...

Boolean networks are a popular modeling framework in computational biology to capture the dynamics of molecular networks, such as gene regulatory networks. It has been observed that many published models of such networks are defined by regulatory rules driving the dynamics that have certain so-called canalizing properties. In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of a random Boolean network with such properties using analytical methods and simulations. From our simulation...

Within the conventional statistical physics framework, we study critical phenomena in a class of configuration network models with hidden variables controlling links between pairs of nodes. We find analytical expressions for the average node degree, the expected number of edges, and the Landau and Helmholtz free energies, as a function of the temperature and number of nodes. We show that the network's temperature is a parameter that controls the average node degree in the who...

We develop a phenomenological theory of critical phenomena in networks with an arbitrary distribution of connections $P(k)$. The theory shows that the critical behavior depends in a crucial way on the form of $P(k)$ and differs strongly from the standard mean-field behavior. The critical behavior observed in various networks is analyzed and found to be in agreement with the theory.

Using Boolean networks as prototypical examples, the role of symmetry in the dynamics of heterogeneous complex systems is explored. We show that symmetry of the dynamics, especially in critical states, is a controlling feature that can be used both to greatly simplify analysis and to characterize different types of dynamics. Symmetry in Boolean networks is found by determining the frequency at which the various Boolean output functions occur. There are classes of functions th...

Random Boolean networks, the Kauffman model, are revisited by means of a novel decimation algorithm, which reduces the networks to their dynamical cores. The average size of the removed part, the stable core, grows approximately linearly with N, the number of nodes in the original networks. We show that this can be understood as the percolation of the stability signal in the network. The stability of the dynamical core is investigated and it is shown that this core lacks the ...

We study two types of simple Boolean networks, namely two loops with a cross-link and one loop with an additional internal link. Such networks occur as relevant components of critical K=2 Kauffman networks. We determine mostly analytically the numbers and lengths of cycles of these networks and find many of the features that have been observed in Kauffman networks. In particular, the mean number and length of cycles can diverge faster than any power law.

It has been proposed that adaptation in complex systems is optimized at the critical boundary between ordered and disordered dynamical regimes. Here, we review models of evolving dynamical networks that lead to self-organization of network topology based on a local coupling between a dynamical order parameter and rewiring of network connectivity, with convergence towards criticality in the limit of large network size $N$. In particular, two adaptive schemes are discussed and ...