Impulse-Induced Optimum Signal Amplification in Scale-Free Networks

Today, there is an emerging "network perspective" approach to studying complex systems reflecting the ubiquitous presence of networks in nature and in human societies. In particular, optimizing information transmission across a network is an essential task for controlling and manipulating generic information-processing systems. Here, we show how topological amplification effects in scale-free networks of signaling devices are optimally enhanced when the impulse transmitted by
periodic external signals (time integral over two consecutive zeros) is maximum. This is demonstrated theoretically by means of a star-like network of overdamped bistable systems subjected to generic zero-mean periodic signals, and con
firmed numerically by simulations of scale-free networks of such systems. Our results show that the enhancer effect of increasing values of the signal’s impulse is due to a correlative increase of the energy transmitted by the periodic signals, while it is found to be resonant-like with respect to the topology-induced amplification mechanism.