Eur. Phys. J. B 86 (2013) 86: 316
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-40009-4

Regular Article

Phase transition of Boolean networks with partially nested canalizing functions

University of Nebraska at Omaha, Mathematics, Durham Science Center 237, NE, 68182 Omaha, USA

^a e-mail: dmatache@unomaha.edu

Received: 7 January 2013
Received in final form: 21 March 2013
Published online: 10 July 2013

Abstract

We generate the critical condition for the phase transition of a Boolean network governed by partially nested canalizing functions for which a fraction of the inputs are canalizing, while the remaining non-canalizing inputs obey a complementary threshold Boolean function. Past studies have considered the stability of fully or partially nested canalizing functions paired with random choices of the complementary function. In some of those studies conflicting results were found with regard to the presence of chaotic behavior. Moreover, those studies focus mostly on ergodic networks in which initial states are assumed equally likely. We relax that assumption and find the critical condition for the sensitivity of the network under a non-ergodic scenario. We use the proposed mathematical model to determine parameter values for which phase transitions from order to chaos occur. We generate Derrida plots to show that the mathematical model matches the actual network dynamics. The phase transition diagrams indicate that both order and chaos can occur, and that certain parameters induce a larger range of values leading to order versus chaos. The edge-of-chaos curves are identified analytically and numerically. It is shown that the depth of canalization does not cause major dynamical changes once certain thresholds are reached; these thresholds are fairly small in comparison to the connectivity of the nodes.