Relay synchronization and control of dynamics in multiplex networks with unidirectional

inter layer coupling

Aiwin T Vadakkana , G. Ambikab,∗

a Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati Tirupati-517 619 India
b Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram-695 551 India

Abstract
Multiplex networks provide a proper framework for understanding the dynamics of complex systems with different types of interac-
tions. In this study, we consider the occurrence of different dynamical states in a multiplex network of nonlinear oscillators, with a
arXiv:2501.02716v1 [nlin.AO] 6 Jan 2025

drive layer and two identical response layers where the interlayer interactions are unidirectional. We report how the directionality in
coupling can lead to relay synchronization with amplification in the two response layers, through the middle drive layer. Moreover,
we find that the dynamics of the response layers can be controlled by adjusting the strength of interlayer coupling or tuning the
dynamical time scale of the drive layer. With nonidentical parameters between the drive and response layers, the response layers
get completely synchronized, with a functional relation with the drive, indicating generalized synchronization between the drive
and response networks.
Keywords: Multiplex network, Relay Synchronization, Unidirectional coupling, Time scale mismatch

1. Introduction Distinct from these, is the concept of relay synchronization in

multilayer network where two distant networks, which are not
The emergent dynamics of several real-world complex sys- directly connected, can synchronize with each other with the
tems, having many interacting subsystems, can be effectively help of an intermediate network acting as the relay[30, 31, 32,
modeled using the framework of complex networks. When 33]. One specific application in this context is the human brain
the subsystems are not identical in the dynamics or nature of network [34, 35, 36, 37], where the thalamus acts as a relay be-
their interactions, we can model them using multilayer net- tween distant cortical areas through the thalamocortical path-
works such that the different layers can take care of the dis- ways. In recent studies, researchers have looked at the effects
similarities [1]. Multiplex networks are a special case of multi- of network topology [38], edge weights [39], intralayer cou-
layer networks, where all layers have the same number of nodes pling [40] and even repulsive coupling [41] in achieving relay
and the ith node of each layer is connected only to the ith nodes synchronization. Also, the relay synchronization of chimeras
of the corresponding layers [2]. This framework can be espe- [42] occur, where synchronization of the coherent domains of
cially useful for studying different types of emergent dynamics chimera states in the first layer occurs with their counterparts
[3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 7, 9] in nervous systems at different organi- in the third layer, whereas the incoherent domains either re-
zational levels [10, 11], social interaction networks with vary- main desynchronized or synchronized. In a specific context,
ing interactions [12], and power grid networks having different relay synchronization is found to improve when the distant lay-
loads for connections [13] etc . Additionally, this can add an ex- ers have positive coupling while the relay layer has repulsive
tra layer of controllability to the system such that a desired state coupling [41].
can be achieved in one of the layers by tuning the parameters of We note most of the reported studies on relay synchroniza-
the other [14]. tion till now is with bidirectional coupling in intra layer and
Among the possible dynamical states in complex systems, inter layer regimes, and hence the effects of directionality of in-
synchronization is the most relevant and well-studied collective terlayer links in relay synchronization are much less explored.
phenomenon due to its theoretical , biological and technologi- There are, in fact, many real world complex systems like the
cal significance. Thus, in both single and multilayer networks, brain that function with its component networks having uni-
achieving synchronization is important[15, 16, 17, 18] and a va- directional connectivity. As an example, we note two-layer
riety of synchronous behavior, such as frequency, in/anti phase neuronal network with unidirectional interlayer connections is
[19], complete, cluster [20, 21], explosive [22, 23, 24], in- found to have interesting patterns like non stationary and im-
tralayer [25, 26], and interlayer [27, 28, 29] synchronization perfect chimera states. [43].
are reported. We also note that most of the complex real world systems
have constituents that often evolve under non-identical time
∗ Corresponding Author scales [44]. In such cases also, the framework of multiplex net-
Email address: [email protected] works would be a good approach to model them, with the inter-
Preprint submitted to Physica D January 7, 2025
acting units separated into multiple layers depending on their
time scales. Some such real-world scenarios with multiple time
scales are temporal neural dynamics [45, 46], chemical reac-
tions [47], hormonal regulation [48], and population dynamics
[49]. In some of the recent studies, the time scale mismatch
between the layers is found to generate dynamical states such
as amplitude death [50], cluster synchronization [51], and fre-
quency synchronization [52] and even revival of synchronized
oscillations [14].
In this study we explore the role of uni directional coupling
in achieving relay synchronization in a three layer multiplex
network. In this framework, the middle layer (L2) acts as the
drive with inter layer unidirectional coupling with two other
layers L1 and L3. Using the Stuart Landau oscillator with peri-
odic limit cycle as nodal dynamics, we study the onset of relay
Figure 1: Schematic of a three layer multiplex network with directional cou-
synchronisation in the system. We find, when the interlayer pling from L2 (drive layer) to L1 and L3 (response layers). ϵ1 is the strength of
coupling is of feedback type, the drive layer L2 induces relay interlayer coupling between L1 and L2 while ϵ2 is that between L2 and L3. K1 ,
synchronisation in L1 and L3 with amplification of oscillations K2 and K3 are the intralayer coupling strength of L1, L2 and L3 respectively.
and in phase synchronisation with the drive layer. We show how
the amplitude of oscillations in the response layers can be con-
trolled by tuning the dynamical time scale mismatch between
i+P
the drive and the responses. This mismatch between layers can K1 X1
also be tuned to control the nature of dynamics induced in the ẋi1 = (1 − xi1
2
− y2i1 )xi1 − ωyi1 + (x j1 − xi1 ) + ϵ1 xi2
2P1 j=i−P
1
response layers, giving rise to interesting patterns like quasi pe-
riodic states in response layers. When the inter layer coupling ẏi1 = (1 − 2
xi1 − + ωxi1 + ϵ1 yi2
y2i1 )yi1
is of diffusive type, drive layer L2 induces complete synchro-  i+P

 K2 X2 
nization of all the three layers in the network. ẋi2 = τ (1 − xi2 − yi2 )xi2 − ωyi2 +
 2 2
(x j2 − xi2 )
2P2 j=i−P
In recent times, few studies related to generalized synchro- h i
2

nization (GS) of complex networks have been reported where ẏi2 = τ (1 − xi2 − yi2 )yi2 + ωxi2
2 2

a functional relation is achieved between pairs of nodes in the i+P

network [53, 54, 55]. The framework we use in the study can K3 X3
ẋi3 = (1 − xi3
2
− y2i3 )xi3 − ωyi3 + (x j3 − xi3 ) + ϵ2 xi2
serve as the auxiliary system approach to study GS when there 2P3 j=i−P
3
is a parameter mismatch between the systems in the drive and
ẏi3 = (1 − xi3
2
− y2i3 )yi3 + ωxi3 + ϵ2 yi2
response layers. This is then an extension of generalized syn-
chronization to networks of systems, since here one network (1)
is driving two other similar networks that get synchronized but
where the variables xi and yi for i = 1, 2,..., N define the
with a functional relation with the drive.
dynamics of SL oscillators in all three layers and ω is the in-
herent frequency of their limit cycle oscillations. The intralayer
coupling strength, K1 and K3 , and the coupling range, P1 and
P3 , control the interactions between the SL oscillators in the
2. Relay synchronization in three layer multiplex network response layers (L1 and L3), whereas K2 and P2 control the
with unidirectional inter layer coupling interactions in the drive layer (L2). In this scenario, P repre-
sents the number of nearest neighbours in each direction; hence,
P ∈ {1, N2 }, where P = 1 for local connections and P = N2 for
a global coupling; and P is 1 < P < N2 for nonlocal coupling.
We start with a three-layer multiplex network of Stuart- The unidirectional feedback coupling from drive to response
Landau (SL) oscillators with ring topology, where each layer governs the inter-layer interactions and we take their strengths
has bidirectional intralayer diffusive coupling. The N oscilla- to be equal as ϵ1 = ϵ2 = ϵ. We also introduce a parameter τ
tors in first (L1) and third layers (L3) are connected to the corre- that can decide the dynamical time scale mismatch between the
sponding ones in the second layer (L2) via interlayer coupling drive and response layers, such that the response layers L1 and
of the feedback type to form a multiplex network. The inter- L3 can be made to evolve on a slower time scale than the drive
layer coupling is directional in nature, indicating that L1 and layer L2 by choosing a value of τ > 1.
L3 receive feedback from L2 through both x and y variables Initially, we keep τ = 1 so that the three layers evolve under
without any feedback input to L2, as shown in Fig. 1. identical time scales. We set the intra layer coupling strength
The dynamical equation for such a three layer multiplex net- and coupling range of each individual network with parameters
work is as shown below. chosen as K1 = K3 = 0.01, K2 = 5 P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, ω = 2,
2
for N = 100 systems in each layer. Then for random initial ϵ, they get synchronized with the drive resulting in complete
condition between (-1, 1) and for ϵ = 0, the response layers do synchronization in the entire multiplex network.
not have intra layer synchronization, while the drive layer has
intra layer synchronized oscillations. As the inter layer cou- 3. Effects of tuning dynamical time scales between layers
pling strength (ϵ) between the drive and response is increased,
the response layers achieve both intra and interlayer synchro- In this section we present the effect of mismatch in dynami-
nization with amplification with respect to the drive. To detect cal time scales between the drive and response layers. For this
intralayer and interlayer synchronization, we define the corre- we introduce a time scale difference between the layers by in-
sponding synchronization errors as in Eq. 2 and 3 where ⟨..⟩ creasing the parameter τ , 1 in Eqn 1 and study the result-
represents the average over time, xi j indicates the x variable of ing changes in dynamics of the response layers. We observe
the ith node in the jth layer and x̄ j is the mean value of xi in the that the amplitude of oscillations in the response layers can be
jth layer. controlled by increasing τ and even made equal to that of the
v drive. With further increase in the value of τ, the dynamics of
*u
t N + the response layers changes and quasi periodic oscillations set
1 X
S intra = [(xi j − x̄ j )2 ] (2) in, with only frequency synchronization between the responses
N i=1
layers. We illustrate this scenario for chosen values of ϵ and τ
v in Fig. 4.
*u N
For ϵ = 3 and τ = 1, in Fig. 4 (a1),we see the response layers
t +
1 X
S inter = [(xi j − xik )2 ] (3) are perfectly synchronized to each other, indicating relay syn-
N i=1
chronization and are phase synchronized with the drive layer.
Clearly, for complete intralayer synchronization, S intra = 0 The phase portrait of the three layers in Fig. 4 (b1) clearly in-
while for complete interlayer synchronization, S inter = 0. These dicates the amplification of oscillations for the response layers.
measures are computed for varying ϵ and plotted in Fig. 2. As As the drive layer is made to evolve on faster time scale, with
ϵ is increased, as seen in Fig. 2 (a1), the intralayer synchro- ϵ = 3 and τ = 2.5, we observe that the amplitude of the oscil-
nization error of both the response layers (red for L1 and green lations in the response and drive layers are equal but frequency
for L3) drops to zero, indicating the onset of synchronization. synchronized with constant phase difference between them as
Fig. 2 (a2) shows the variation in the inter layer synchroniza- shown in Fig. 4 (a2). This is clear from Fig. 4 (b2) where the
tion error as ϵ is increased. Here, the synchronization error phase portraits of the three layers overlap. With further increase
between L1 and L2 is indicated in red, that between L2 and L3 of τ, multiple frequencies are observed in the response layers
in green and between L3 and L1 in blue. It is clear that as ϵ and the oscillations are quasi-periodic in nature, as shown in
is increased, both the response layers get synchronized to each Fig. 4 (a3, b3) for ϵ = 3 and τ = 4. Then, relay synchronization
other achieving relay synchronization as shown in the Fig. 2(a2) between the responses is lost and they are frequency synchro-
while the synchronization error between the drive and response nized to each other.
first decreases and then gradually increases with ϵ due to the We indicate the possible dynamical states induced in the re-
amplification induced by the directional coupling. sponse layers in the parameter plane τ vs ϵ in Fig. 5. We
To study the amplification of the response layers due to the keep the other parameter values as K1 = K2 = K3 = 5,
directional coupling, we compute the average amplitude, de- P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, ω = 2 and N = 100 and study the
fined as, nature of dynamics on varying τ and ϵ by computing average
amplitude and synchronization errors. The region marked as (i)
N
1 X indicates parameter values for which there is amplification in
< A(ϵ) >= [⟨xi,max ⟩t − ⟨xi,min ⟩t ] (4) the response layer with respect to the drive. The average am-
N i=1
plitudes of oscillations in the drive and the response layers are
We show in Fig. 3 (a1) the variation in the average amplitude equal for the range of parameter values lying in region (ii). In
of intralayer synchronized oscillations in the drive and response region (iii) the average amplitude of the response is less than
layers for K1 = K2 = K3 = 5. We observe that as the strength that of the drive and in region (iv), quasi periodic states are ob-
of interlayer coupling (ϵ) is increased, the amplitude of oscil- served in the response layers.
lations in both the response layers increases while that of the The variation in the average amplitude of L1 and L3 with τ
drive remains the same due to the directional nature of the cou- is depicted in Fig. 6. For ϵ = 3 when both the drive and the re-
pling. In this state, the response layers are phase synchronized sponse layers have the same time scales, the average amplitude
with the drive, as is clear from Fig. 3 (a2) where the variation of the response is greater than the drive due to the directional
in the phase difference between the drive and the responses is feedback coupling. As a time scale difference is introduced be-
shown as ϵ is increased. tween the response and the drive (both τ > 1 and τ < 1), the
We repeat the above analysis for the case where the inter average amplitude of the responses decreases, becoming equal
layer coupling is of diffusive type. For this in Eq. 1, replace at τ = 2.5. In the case of diffusive inter layer coupling, as the
the feedback coupling term by ϵ(xi2 − xik ) and ϵ(yi2 − yik ) for the drive layer is made faster (τ > 1) or slower (τ < 1) the response
x and y variables respectively, where k = 1, 3. Then we find that layers show relay synchronization with decreased average am-
the response layers do not show amplification but on adjusting plitude when compared to the drive as depicted in Fig. 6 (black).
3
 0.7
(a1) 0.7 (a2)
0.6 0.6
0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4

Sinter
Sintra

0.3 0.3
0.2 0.2
0.1 0.1
0.0 0.0
0.000 0.065 0.130 0.195 0.065 0.130 0.195

Figure 2: Intra and interlayer synchronization errors vs inter layer coupling strength ϵ for the three layer multiplex network of SL oscillators with uni directional
coupling. (a1): For the parameters chose, the drive layer (blue) is intralayer synchronized. Initially the response layers (red and green) are not intralayer synchro-
nized, but with the increase in the interlayer coupling (ϵ), the response layers achieve intralayer synchronization. (a2): Initially, no interlayer synchronization in the
network but with the increase of ϵ, interlayer synchronization error between the response layers (blue) goes to zero indicating relay synchronization. The interlayer
synchronization error between drive and the response layers (red and green) increases with ϵ due to the amplification caused by the uni directional feedback coupling.
The other parameter values are: K1 = K3 = 0.01, K2 = 5 P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, ω = 2, τ = 1 and N = 100

3.2
(a1) 0.7
(a2)
0.6
3.0 0.5
2.8
<A( )>

0.4
2.6 0.3
2.4 0.2
2.2 0.1
2.0 0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 0.025 0.050 0.075 0.100 0.125 0.150 0.175

Figure 3: (a1): Average amplitude vs strength of interlayer coupling ϵ for the three layer multiplex network of SL oscillators with uni directional coupling. The
amplitude of both the response layers L1 and L3 (green) are equal and increases with the value of ϵ while that of the drive L2 (blue) remains the same. (a2): Phase
differences between the layers L1 and L2 (red) and that between L2 and L3 (green) decrease to zero as ϵ is increased, indicating phase synchronization between the
layers even with amplification in the responses. The other parameter values are kept as : K1 = K2 = K3 = 5, P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, ω = 2, τ = 1 and N = 100

So, introducing a dynamical time scale difference between the lations of the response to that of the drive is possible. This is
drive and response in this case can make the system go from then followed by quasi periodic behavior for very high τ values.
complete synchronization to relay synchronization. In the case of diffusive coupling, with the same set of parame-
In addition to the time scale mismatch between layers, we ters, we observe relay synchronization of the responses instead
also consider mismatch in the parameters of the intrinsic dy- of complete synchronization due to parameter mismatch and
namics, ω, of SL oscillators between layers. With K1 = K2 = the amplitude of oscillations of the response layers can be con-
K3 = 5, P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, τ = 1, ωdrive = 2, ωresponse = 1.5, trolled by tuning τ just like the case without intrinsic parameter
N = 100 and ϵ = 3, for feedback type of inter layer cou- mismatch.
pling, we observe relay synchronization with amplification of
the response layers but they have only frequency synchroniza- 4. Conclusion
tion with the drive unlike the previous case where phase syn-
chronization is observed. As τ is varied for a fixed epsilon, While relay synchronization is one of the active research ar-
ϵ = 3, similar to the above observations, tuning of the oscil- eas in the context of complex networks, most of the works till
4
 1.5 (a1) 1.5 (b1)
1.0 1.0
0.5 0.5
0.0 0.0
xij

yij
0.5 0.5
1.0 1.0
1.5 1.5
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
xij
1.00 (a2) 1.00 (b2)
0.75 0.75
0.50 0.50
0.25 0.25
0.00 0.00
xij

yij

0.25 0.25
0.50 0.50
0.75 0.75
1.00 1.00
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.25 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00
xij
1.0
(a3) (b3)
1.0

0.5 0.5

0.0 0.0
xij

yij

0.5 0.5

1.0 1.0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0
Time xij
Figure 4: Time series of the x variable and phase portraits in x − y plane for different τ values for the three layer multiplex network of SL oscillators with uni
directional coupling. (a1) and (b1): Relay synchronization with amplification for the response layers (red and green) phase synchronized with the drive layer (blue)
for ϵ = 3 and τ = 1, (a2) and (b2): Responses layers are frequency synchronized with the drive with equal amplitude of oscillations and completely synchronized to
each other for ϵ = 3 and τ = 2.5, (a3) and (b3): Quasi periodic behavior of the frequency synchronized response layers for ϵ = 3 and τ = 4. The other parameter
values are: K1 = K2 = K3 = 5, P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, ω = 2 and N = 100.

5
 1.5
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

1.66

1.83

1.99
1.0 1.12 1.25 1.37 1.5 1.62 1.75 1.87 1.99 2.12 2.24 2.37 2.49

Figure 5: Parameter plane ϵ vs τ for the three layer multiplex network. The various dynamical behaviors observed are (i): Amplification of the responses with
respect to the drive, (ii): Equal amplitude oscillations in both drive and response layer, (iii): Smaller amplitude oscillations in the response with respect to the drive,
(iv): Quasi periodic behavior in the response network. The other parameter values are: K1 = K2 = K3 = 5, P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, ω = 2, and N = 100.

and the remote layers L1 and L3 being the responses. We ana-

lyze how different coupling strategies affect the development of
relay synchronization on the response networks.
3.0 When all the layers evolve at the same dynamical time scale
and with identical systems, the unidirectional feedback from the
drive causes amplification of oscillations in the response layers
<A( )>

2.5 along with relay synchronization that is in phase with the drive.
We show that the amplification can be controlled by adjusting
2.0 the strength of inter layer coupling.
By introducing appropriate time scale difference between the
1.5 layers using the mismatch parameter τ, we can control the am-
plitude of oscillations in the response layers and they can be
made equal to that of the drive with a phase difference. With
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
further increase in τ, the amplitude of oscillations of the re-
sponse becomes smaller than the drive, finally leading to quasi
Figure 6: Average amplitude vs τ for the three layer multiplex network with SL periodic behavior in the response layers. But as quasi periodic
oscillators. Here blue curve shows average amplitude of the drive layer, green behavior emerges, relay synchronization is lost with only fre-
(black) that of synchronized response layers with unidirectional coupling of quency synchronization between the response layers.
feedback (diffusive) type . The other parameter values are: K1 = K2 = K3 = 5,
P1 = P2 = P3 = 25, ϵ = 3, ω = 2, and N = 100. In the case of unidirectional diffusive coupling between iden-
tical layers, we obtain synchronization between the drive and
responses leading to complete synchronization of the entire net-
now consider bidirectional coupling in the multilayer frame- work. When a time scale miss match is introduced, the ampli-
work. In this study, we explore the effects of uni directional tude of oscillations of the response decreases.
inter layer coupling in a three layer multiplex network of Stu- We also study the dynamics on the response networks when
art Landau oscillators, with the middle layer L2 being the drive there is a parameter mismatch in the response compared to the
6
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