Toward hybrid nanostructure-slime mould devices

Mayne, Richard; Adamatzky, Andrew

Abstract

The plasmodium of slime mould Physarum polycephalum has recently received signi¯cant attention for its value as a highly malleable amorphous computing substrate. In laboratory-based experiments, nanoscale arti¯cial circuit components were introduced into the P. polycephalum plasmdodium to investigate the electrical properties and computational abilities of hybridized slime mould. It was found through a combination of imaging techniques and electrophysiological measurements that P. polycephalum is able to internalize a range of electrically active nanoparticles (NPs), assemble them in vivo and distribute them around the plasmodium. Hybridized plasmodium is able to form biomorphic mineralized networks inside the living plasmodium and the empty trails left following its migration, both of which facilitate the transmission of electricity. Hybridization also alters the bioelectrical activity of the plasmodium and likely in°uences its information processing capabilities. It was concluded that hybridized slime mould is a suitable substrate for producing functional unconventional computing devices.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 22, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Aug 19, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Mar 22, 2016
• Journal: Nano LIFE
• Print ISSN: 1793-9844
• Electronic ISSN: 1793-9852
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1450007
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S179398441450007X
• Keywords: physarum polycephalum, slime mould, unconventional computing, nanoparticle
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/843258
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S179398441450007X
• Contract Date: Mar 22, 2016