Slime mould tactile sensor

TL;DR

This paper investigates the electrical responses of slime mould P. polycephalum to tactile stimulation, aiming to develop localized input methods for slime mould-based computing devices by analyzing its dynamic electrical behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to tactile input for slime mould computers by studying their electrical responses to mechanical pressure in laboratory experiments.

Findings

Physarum responds to tactile stimulation with electrical impulses.

Mechanical pressure alters electrical oscillation patterns.

Potential for localized tactile inputs in slime mould computing.

Abstract

Slime mould P. polycephalum is a single cells visible by unaided eye. The cells shows a wide spectrum of intelligent behaviour. By interpreting the behaviour in terms of computation one can make a slime mould based computing device. The Physarum computers are capable to solve a range of tasks of computational geometry, optimisation and logic. Physarum computers designed so far lack of localised inputs. Commonly used inputs --- illumination and chemo-attractants and -repellents --- usually act on extended domains of the slime mould's body. Aiming to design massive-parallel tactile inputs for slime mould computers we analyse a temporal dynamic of P. polycephalum's electrical response to tactile stimulation. In experimental laboratory studies we discover how the Physarum responds to application and removal of a local mechanical pressure with electrical potential impulses and changes in its electrical potential oscillation patterns.