Cristian Spitoni
As a researcher at the Mathematical Department of Utrecht University (the Netherlands), Dr. Spitoni is engaged with the fundamental aspects of opinion dynamics.
Abstract — “In our earlier work, we showed that simple local averaging on a circular opinion space can lead to trapping configurations, i.e. stable winding patterns that prevent full consensus. These metastable states arise because circular topology conserves a global quantity, the winding number, effectively locking the system into twisted configurations that resemble topological defects.
In this talk, we explore how two natural extensions (i.e. parallel updates and opinion noise) can break these traps and restore collective agreement. Through simulations and analytical results, we show how deterministic topology, local synchronization, and stochastic fluctuations combine to shape the collective behavior of opinions on the circle. The results suggest a general mechanism by which small amounts of randomness can overcome topological frustration in complex adaptive systems.”