Stochastic resonance in discrete excitable dynamics on graphs

How signals propagate through a network as a function of the network architecture and under the influence of noise is a fundamental question in a broad range of areas dealing with signal processing - from neuroscience to electrical engineering and communication technology. Here we use numerical simulations and a mean-field approach to analyze a minimal dynamic model for signal propagation. By labeling and tracking the excitations propagating from a single input node to remote output nodes in random networks, we show that noise (provided by spontaneous node excitations) can lead to an enhanced signal propagation, with a peak in the signal-to-noise ratio at intermediate noise intensities. This network analog of stochastic resonance is not captured by a mean-field description that incorporates topology only on the level of the average degree, indicating that the detailed network topology plays a significant role in signal propagation.