• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems
    Monthly Online Journal (eISSN: 1976-7277)

A Spiking Neural Network for Autonomous Search and Contour Tracking Inspired by C. elegans Chemotaxis and the Lévy Walk

Vol. 16, No. 9, September 30, 2022
10.3837/tiis.2022.09.001, Download Paper (Free):

Abstract

Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits sophisticated chemotaxis behavior through two parallel strategies, klinokinesis and klinotaxis, executed entirely by a small nervous circuit. It is therefore suitable for inspiring fast and energy-efficient solutions for autonomous navigation. As a random search strategy, the Lévy walk is optimal for diverse animals when foraging without external chemical cues. In this study, by combining these biological strategies for the first time, we propose a spiking neural network model for search and contour tracking of specific concentrations of environmental variables. Specifically, we first design a klinotaxis module using spiking neurons. This module works in conjunction with a klinokinesis module, allowing rapid searches for the concentration setpoint and subsequent contour tracking with small deviations. Second, we build a random exploration module. It generates a Lévy walk in the absence of concentration gradients, increasing the chance of encountering gradients. Third, considering local extrema traps, we develop a termination module combined with an escape module to initiate or terminate the escape in a timely manner. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model integrating these modules can switch strategies autonomously according to the information from a single sensor and control steering through output spikes, enabling the model worm to efficiently navigate across various scenarios.


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Cite this article

[IEEE Style]
M. Chen, D. Feng, H. Su, "A Spiking Neural Network for Autonomous Search and Contour Tracking Inspired by C. elegans Chemotaxis and the Lévy Walk," KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems, vol. 16, no. 9, pp. 2846-2866, 2022. DOI: 10.3837/tiis.2022.09.001.

[ACM Style]
Mohan Chen, Dazheng Feng, and Hongtao Su. 2022. A Spiking Neural Network for Autonomous Search and Contour Tracking Inspired by C. elegans Chemotaxis and the Lévy Walk. KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems, 16, 9, (2022), 2846-2866. DOI: 10.3837/tiis.2022.09.001.

[BibTeX Style]
@article{tiis:25981, title="A Spiking Neural Network for Autonomous Search and Contour Tracking Inspired by C. elegans Chemotaxis and the Lévy Walk", author="Mohan Chen and Dazheng Feng and Hongtao Su and ", journal="KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems", DOI={10.3837/tiis.2022.09.001}, volume={16}, number={9}, year="2022", month={September}, pages={2846-2866}}