A mathematical model for adaptive transport network in path finding by true slime mold

We describe here a mathematical model of the adaptive dynamics of a transport network of the true slime mold Physarum polycephalum, an amoeboid organism that exhibits path-finding behavior in a maze. This organism possesses a network of tubular elements, by means of which nutrients and signals circu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of theoretical biology 2007-02, Vol.244 (4), p.553-564
Main Authors: Tero, Atsushi, Kobayashi, Ryo, Nakagaki, Toshiyuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological - physiology
Animals
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Biological Transport - physiology
Feedback - physiology
Locomotion - physiology
Mathematical modeling
Mathematics
Models, Biological
Natural adaptive networks
Physarum polycephalum
Physarum polycephalum - physiology
Plasmodium
Signal Transduction - physiology
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Summary:We describe here a mathematical model of the adaptive dynamics of a transport network of the true slime mold Physarum polycephalum, an amoeboid organism that exhibits path-finding behavior in a maze. This organism possesses a network of tubular elements, by means of which nutrients and signals circulate through the plasmodium. When the organism is put in a maze, the network changes its shape to connect two exits by the shortest path. This process of path-finding is attributed to an underlying physiological mechanism: a tube thickens as the flux through it increases. The experimental evidence for this is, however, only qualitative. We constructed a mathematical model of the general form of the tube dynamics. Our model contains a key parameter corresponding to the extent of the feedback regulation between the thickness of a tube and the flux through it. We demonstrate the dependence of the behavior of the model on this parameter.
ISSN:0022-5193
1095-8541
DOI:10.1016/j.jtbi.2006.07.015