Decision-making on the move

• Applicant: Dan Gorbonos, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 552643106

Animals face challenges in spatio-temporal decision-making, where they must choose among discrete spatial options such as food sources, shelters, or mates, either individually or as a group. However, past research has primarily focused on decision-making in static settings, with little exploration of the mechanisms behind spatial choices during movement towards targets. Our recent studies applied a spin model, an extension of the Ising model, to interpret spin interactions as either neuronal interactions in individuals or social forces in groups. This model demonstrates how decisions lead to phase transitions in movement direction, resulting in trajectory bifurcations. Validated by experiments for individuals across various species, this model predicts that multichoice scenarios break down into a series of binary decisions, among other findings. Despite advancements and experimental support, questions remain about the nature of these bifurcations and their application to collective decision-making. This prompts further investigation into the universal geometric principles of decision-making across scales, such as increasing sensitivity at the phase transition point, mapping to opinion dynamics problems, and comparing to other models of group decision-making with a similar phase transition mechanism. Additionally, we aim to study the implications of this model for the neurobiology of spatial navigation, known as the ring attractor model. Upcoming experiments with swarm robots aim to test these principles, potentially leading to the design of more efficient human-engineered systems of swarm robots while requiring minimal computation and no system-specific tuning or optimization.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants