Temporal 3-Node Motifs
Detect recurring temporal patterns in your network
Identifies all 3-node temporal motifs - ordered sequences of edges between 3 nodes that respect time.
What It Computes
Counts of each temporal motif type (16 possible patterns for directed graphs).
When to Use It
- Pattern discovery: Find common interaction sequences
- Fraud detection: Identify coordinated timing patterns
- Behavior analysis: Discover temporal signatures
Performance
Time: O(E × avg_degree)
Can be expensive on dense graphs
Scales to: 1M edges
Example
Use Cases
Fraud Pattern Detection
Coordinated account behavior:
Social Patterns
Communication sequences revealing structure
Attack Patterns
Lateral movement signatures in security logs
Temporal vs Static Motifs
Static: Edges exist (ignore time)
Temporal: Edges occur in specific order
Critical difference: Temporal reveals causality