Exploiting environmental computation in a multi-agent model of slime mould

Jones, Jeff

Abstract

Very simple organisms, such as the single-celled amoeboid slime mould Physarumpolycephalum possess no neural tissue yet, despite this, are known to exhibit complex biological and computational behaviour. Given such limited resources, can environmental stimuli play a role in generating the complexity of slime mould’s behaviour? We use a multi-agent collective model of slime mould to explore a two-way mechanism where the collective’s behaviour is influenced by simulated chemical concentration gradient fields and, in turn, this behaviour alters the spatial pattern of the concentration gradients. This simple mechanism yields complex behaviour amid the dynamically changing gradient profiles and suggests how the apparently ‘intelligent’ response of the slime mould could possibly be due to outsourcing of computation to the environment.

Citation

Jones, J. (2014, September). Exploiting environmental computation in a multi-agent model of slime mould. Presented at ABBII International Symposium on Artificial, Biological and Bio-Inspired Intelligence

• Presentation Conference Type: Speech
• Conference Name: ABBII International Symposium on Artificial, Biological and Bio-Inspired Intelligence
• Start Date: Sep 22, 2014
• End Date: Sep 28, 2014
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2014
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: slime mould, unconventional computing
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4912814
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Proceedings of ABBII International Symposium on Artificial, Biological and Bio-Inspired Intelligence