Equivalences between network modularity and diverse low-dimensional representations

Published: 23 Sept 2025, Last Modified: 17 Nov 2025UniReps2025EveryoneRevisionsBibTeXCC BY 4.0
Track: Extended Abstract Track
Keywords: modularity, k-means, manifold learning, UMAP
TL;DR: We equate versions of the modularity with variants of the k-means objective, spectral manifold learning objectives, and UMAP.
Abstract: Modularity is a popular clustering objective in network science. Here, we equate normalized and generalized versions of the modularity with variants of $k$-means objective, spectral manifold learning objectives, and UMAP. These equivalences naturally lead to definitions of new representation objectives. As an example, we show that one of these objectives embeds brain-imaging data much better than UMAP. Together, our results unify outwardly distinct representations across unsupervised learning, network science, and imaging neuroscience.
Submission Number: 133
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