Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Toward hybrid nanostructure-slime mould devices

Mayne, Richard; Adamatzky, Andrew

Authors

Richard Mayne Richard.Mayne@uwe.ac.uk
Lecturer in Maths Supporting Science



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.

Citation

Mayne, R., & Adamatzky, A. (2015). Toward hybrid nanostructure-slime mould devices. Nano LIFE, 5(1), 1450007. https://doi.org/10.1142/S179398441450007X

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
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