Signed and Unsigned Partial Information Decompositions of Continuous Network Interactions

Abstract: We investigate the partial information decomposition (PID) framework as a tool for edge nomination. We consider both the $I_{\cap}^{\text{min}}$ and $I_{\cap}^{\text{PM}}$ PIDs, from arXiv:1004.2515 and arXiv:1801.09010 respectively, and we both numerically and analytically investigate the utility of these frameworks for discovering significant edge interactions. In the course of our work, we extend both the $I_{\cap}^{\text{min}}$ and $I_{\cap}^{\text{PM}}$ PIDs to a general class of continuous trivariate systems. Moreover, we examine how each PID apportions information into redundant, synergistic, and unique information atoms within the source-bivariate PID framework. Both our simulation experiments and analytic inquiry indicate that the atoms of the $I_{\cap}^{\text{PM}}$ PID have a non-specific sensitivity to high predictor-target mutual information, regardless of whether or not the predictors are truly interacting. By contrast, the $I_{\cap}^{\text{min}}$ PID is quite specific, although simulations suggest that it lacks sensitivity.