Hierarchical network structure as the source of hierarchical dynamics (power law frequency spectra) in living and non-living systems: how state-trait continua (body plans, personalities) emerge from first principles in biophysics
Rutger Goekoop, Roy de Kleijn

TL;DR
This paper proposes that the hierarchical network structure of living systems underpins their fractal-like dynamics and power-law frequency spectra, explaining how physical and behavioral traits emerge from first principles in biophysics.
Contribution
It introduces a theory linking hierarchical network structures to power-law dynamics in living and non-living systems, providing a unified explanation for state-trait continua from first principles.
Findings
Hierarchical structures produce power-law frequency spectra.
Nested modularity embeds high frequencies within lower frequencies.
System development and collapse leave detectable dynamic traces.
Abstract
Living systems are hierarchical control systems that display a small world network structure, in which many smaller clusters are nested within fewer larger ones, producing a fractal-like structure with a power-law cluster size distribution (a mereology). Apart from their structure, the dynamics of living systems also shows fractal-like qualities: the timeseries of inner message passing and overt behavior contain high frequencies or states (treble) that are nested within lower frequencies or traits (bass), producing a power-law frequency spectrum that is known as a state-trait continuum in the behavioral sciences. Here, we argue that the power-law dynamics of living systems results from their power-law network structure: organisms vertically encode the deep spatiotemporal structure of their (anticipated) environments, to the effect that many small clusters near the base of the hierarchy…
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Taxonomy
TopicsFractal and DNA sequence analysis
MethodsBalanced Selection
