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On the Memristive Properties of Slime Mould

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Advances in Physarum Machines

Part of the book series: Emergence, Complexity and Computation ((ECC,volume 21))

Abstract

Physarum polycephalum has been shown to be a biological computer, capable of solving problems through morphological computation. We present laboratory experiments where Physarum was investigated as a component of electronic or wet-ware computers. We find that \(I-T\) electronic signals consistent in time-scale with shuttle transport can be recorded with a sensitive Keithley electrometer. The memristor is a novel non-linear stateful resistor with great promise in neuromorphic computing. We demonstrate that Physarum gives \(I-V\) curves consistent with a memristor and that this response is located in the living cytosol part of the organism (as opposed to the gel outer-body or slime layer). We model the Physarum as an active memristor (a memristor combined with a battery), where the living Physarum metabolism provides energy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unconventional Computing Group, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK

    Ella Gale & Andrew Adamatzky

  2. Department of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK

    Ben de Lacy Costello

Authors
  1. Ella Gale
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  2. Andrew Adamatzky
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  3. Ben de Lacy Costello
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Correspondence to Ella Gale .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unconventional Computing Centre, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Andrew Adamatzky

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Gale, E., Adamatzky, A., de Lacy Costello, B. (2016). On the Memristive Properties of Slime Mould. In: Adamatzky, A. (eds) Advances in Physarum Machines. Emergence, Complexity and Computation, vol 21. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26662-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26662-6_4

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26662-6

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