title: Dynamics of complex systems: scaling laws for the period of boolean networks
abstract: Boolean networks serve as models for complex systems, such as social or genetic networks, where each vertex, based on inputs received from selected vertices, makes its own decision about its state. Despite their simplicity, little is known about the dynamical properties of these systems. Here we propose a method to calculate the period of a finite Boolean system, by identifying the mechanisms determining its value. The proposed method can be applied to systems of arbitrary topology, and can serve as a roadmap for understanding the dynamics of large interacting systems in general.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barabasi