Hypernetworks induce stable hyperlocking
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Hypernetworks capture coupling structures where interactions extend beyond pairs to groups of three or more units, called hyperedges. They are of increasing importance for many systems such as the brain, social groups, ecosystems, and the climate. We describe here a synchronization phenomenon that is distinctive for hypernetworks. We uncover that in a system of three coupled oscillators with resonant frequencies, the coupling by a triadic hypernetwork motif, where a third node modulates the interaction between two others, can induce a stable locking of a phase triplet, while no pairwise locking is observed. Using normal form transformations and phase reduction, we derive analytically how a specific choice of the coupling functions induces this hyperlocking. We confirm our predictions with both numerical simulations and chemical experiments. Our findings uncover a new synchronization mechanism intrinsic to higher-order interactions and open new directions for controlling real-world complex dynamics beyond pairwise frameworks.
Date Acceptance
2026-05-20
Citation
Nature Communications
ISSN
2041-1723
Publisher
Nature Portfolio
Journal / Book Title
Nature Communications
Copyright Statement
Copyright This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the Version of Record (VoR) will be available on immediate open access.
License URL
Publication Status
Accepted