Towards Slime Mould Based Computer

In this paper, I theoretically summarize, which behavioral possibilities the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum has in order to be considered the medium of computation. I show that plasmodia can be represented as a natural implementation of different abstract automata: cellular automata, Kolmogorov–Uspensky machines, Schönhage’s storage modification machines, random-access machines. As a programming language for simulating Physarum plasmodium behavior, process calculus can be used.

THE WORLD'S COLONIZATION AND TRADE ROUTES FORMATION AS IMITATED BY SLIME MOULD

The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is renowned for spanning sources of nutrients with networks of protoplasmic tubes. The networks transport nutrients and metabolites across the plasmodium's body. To imitate a hypothetical colonization of the world and the formation of major transportation routes we cut continents from agar plates arranged in Petri dishes or on the surface of a three-dimensional globe, represent positions of selected metropolitan areas with oat flakes and inoculate the plasmodium in one of the metropolitan areas. The plasmodium propagates towards the sources of nutrients, spans them with its network of protoplasmic tubes and even crosses bare substrate between the continents. From the laboratory experiments we derive weighted Physarum graphs, analyze their structure, compare them with the basic proximity graphs and generalized graphs derived from the Silk Road and the Asia Highway networks.

Allometric Scaling Laws in the Exploratory Behavior of the Physarum Plasmodium

The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is a unicellular and multinuclear giant amoeba. In this paper, the authors investigate four allometric laws in the exploratory behavior of the plasmodium, and integrate them into one schema based on the dynamics of cytoplasmic streaming. This study reveals a novel function of the tubular structure of the plasmodium, shedding new light on the adaptive behavior of the organism.

Cell Motility Viewed as Softness

In this paper, the authors propose a simple model of cell motility inspired by the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum. The model focuses on the “softness” of aggregations of protoplasm. The model has only two parameters, yet generates a variety of final states, as well as the morphological changes of Physarum according to the condition of the culture medium.

PHYSARUM SPATIAL LOGIC

Plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is a large single cell capable for distributed sensing, information processing, decentralized decision-making and collective action. In the paper, we interpret basic features of the plasmodium foraging behavior in terms of process calculus and spatial logic and show that this behavior could be regarded as one of the natural implementations of spatial logic without modal operators.

On the Internalisation, Intraplasmodial Carriage and Excretion of Metallic Nanoparticles in the Slime Mould, Physarum Polycephalum

The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is a large single cell visible with the naked eye. When inoculated on a substrate with attractants and repellents the plasmodium develops optimal networks of protoplasmic tubes which span sites of attractants (i.e. nutrients) yet avoid domains with a high nutrient concentration. It should therefore be possible to program the plasmodium towards deterministic adaptive transformation of internalised nano- and micro-scale materials. In laboratory experiments with magnetite nanoparticles and glass micro-spheres coated with silver metal the authors demonstrate that the plasmodium of P. polycephalum can propagate the nano-scale objects using a number of distinct mechanisms including endocytosis, transcytosis and dragging. The results of the authors’ experiments could be used in the development of novel techniques targeted towards the growth of metallised biological wires and hybrid nano- and micro-circuits.