Physarum Can Compute Shortest Paths
Event details
| Date | 14.10.2014 |
| Hour | 14:00 › 15:00 |
| Speaker | Vincenzo Bonifaci - Institute of Systems Analysis and Informatics, Italian National Research Council (IASI-CNR), Rome |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
ABSTRACT
Natural processes are often capable of exhibiting remarkable information processing abilities. Physarum polycephalum -- the 'many headed' slime mold -- is a single-cell, multiple nuclei organism that is apparently able to solve rather complex tasks, such as finding the shortest path between two points in a maze while foraging food. Mathematical models have been proposed by biomathematicians to describe the feedback mechanism used by Physarum to adapt its tubular channels while foraging two food sources s0 and s1. We prove that, under one such model, the mass of the mold will eventually converge to the shortest s0-s1 path of the network that the mold lies on, independently of the structure of the network or of the initial mass distribution. This matches the experimental observations by the biologists and can be seen as an example of a "natural algorithm", that is, an algorithm developed by evolution over millions of years.
Natural algorithms provide an information processing perspective on biological processes, as well as inspiration for innovative solutions in computer science. We discuss how to turn the Physarum dynamics into a discrete algorithm that is suitable for implementation on modern computers. We also illustrate some of the many open questions concerning Physarum's computational capabilities.
Natural processes are often capable of exhibiting remarkable information processing abilities. Physarum polycephalum -- the 'many headed' slime mold -- is a single-cell, multiple nuclei organism that is apparently able to solve rather complex tasks, such as finding the shortest path between two points in a maze while foraging food. Mathematical models have been proposed by biomathematicians to describe the feedback mechanism used by Physarum to adapt its tubular channels while foraging two food sources s0 and s1. We prove that, under one such model, the mass of the mold will eventually converge to the shortest s0-s1 path of the network that the mold lies on, independently of the structure of the network or of the initial mass distribution. This matches the experimental observations by the biologists and can be seen as an example of a "natural algorithm", that is, an algorithm developed by evolution over millions of years.
Natural algorithms provide an information processing perspective on biological processes, as well as inspiration for innovative solutions in computer science. We discuss how to turn the Physarum dynamics into a discrete algorithm that is suitable for implementation on modern computers. We also illustrate some of the many open questions concerning Physarum's computational capabilities.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
- Nisheeth Vishnoi