The Local Information Dynamics of Distributed Computation in Complex Systems

This book offers a complete information-theoretic framework to quantify distributed computation in complex systems operations on information, particularly their dynamics in space and time. structure. Includes applications to random Boolean networks and more.

The nature of distributed computation in complex systems has often been described in terms of memory, communication and processing. This thesis presents a complete information-theoretic framework to quantify these operations on information (i.e. information storage, transfer and modification), and in particular their dynamics in space and time. The framework is applied to cellular automata, and delivers important insights into the fundamental nature of distributed computation and the dynamics of complex systems (e.g. that gliders are dominant information transfer agents). Applications to several important network models, including random Boolean networks, suggest that the capability for information storage and coherent transfer are maximised near the critical regime in certain order-chaos phase transitions. Further applications to study and design information structure in the contexts of computational neuroscience and guided self-organisation underline the practical utility of the techniques presented here.

Nominated as an outstanding PhD thesis from the University of Sydney This thesis develops the first complete framework to quantify the information dynamics of distributed computation, with possible application to biological and bio-inspired systems Unique in blending theoretical contributions (e.g. fundamental insights into computation in cellular automata) with practical results (e.g. in computational neuroscience) Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Introduction.- Computation in complex systems.-Information storage.-Information transfer.-Information modifications.- Information dynamics in networks and phase transitions.- Coherent information structure in complex computation.-Information transfer in biological and bio-inspired systems.-Conclusion.