Branching Network Model of Observable Influence and Latent Source

We present a branching network model that distinguishes between observable influence and a latent original source. Influence is divided equally across generations, producing exponential dilution, while the original source remains invariant and latent. As branching depth increases, observable traces of the origin diminish and are cognitively forgotten, yet they remain structurally implicit. This separation between structural persistence and perceptual visibility provides a conceptual framework for understanding how small-world networks maintain connectivity to their origins without explicit awareness.