SpreadPy: A Python tool for modelling spreading activation and superdiffusion in cognitive multiplex networks

We introduce SpreadPy as a Python library for simulating spreading activation in cognitive single-layer and multiplex networks. Our tool enables systematic testing of structure–function relationships in cognition by comparing simulated activation dynamics outcomes with established theories in knowledge modelling. We demonstrate the library’s utility through three case studies: (1) Spreading activation on associative knowledge networks distinguishes students with high versus low math anxiety, revealing anxiety-related structural differences in conceptual organization; (2) Activation trajectories in a creativity task vary with task difficulty, revealing how cognitive load modulates lexical access; (3) In individuals with aphasia, simulated activation patterns on lexical networks correlate with empirical error types (semantic vs. phonological) during picture-naming tasks, linking network structure to clinical impairments. SpreadPy’s flexible framework allows researchers to model these processes using empirically derived or theoretical networks, providing mechanistic insights into individual differences and cognitive impairments. The library is openly available, supporting reproducible research in psychology, neuroscience, and education research.