Mycelial Network Self-Organization [4,4]
How fungal networks represent and organize themselves.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MYCELIAL NETWORK SELF-ORGANIZATION [4,4] │
│ │
│ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ ACTUAL MYCELIAL NETWORK │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ │ │
│ │ │ ◉ │ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│ ◉ │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ │ │
│ │ └───┘ └───┘ │ │
│ │ | | │ │
│ │ | | │ │
│ │ ≈≈≈|≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈|≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ │ │
│ │ | ≈≈≈≈≈ \|/ │ │
│ │ \|/ ≈≈≈≈ ┌───┐|┌───┐ │ │
│ │ ┌───┐ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│ ◎ ││ ◎ │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ │ │
│ │ │ ◎ │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈└───┘└───┘ │ │
│ │ └───┘ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ MYCELIAL SELF-ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌──────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │ │
│ │ │ RESOURCE │ │ SIGNAL │ │ RESOURCE │ │ │
│ │ │ NODE A │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│EXCHANGE │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│ NODE B │ │ │
│ │ └────┬─────┘ └─────────┘ └────┬─────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ ≈ ≈ │ │
│ │ ≈ ┌─────────────┐ ≈ │ │
│ │ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│ NUTRIENT │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ │ │
│ │ │ ALLOCATION │ │ │
│ │ │ SYSTEM │ │ │
│ │ └─────────────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ CHEMICAL SIGNALING - DISTRIBUTED INTELLIGENCE │ │
│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ STRENGTHS: RESILIENT, ADAPTABLE, RESOURCE-EFFICIENT │
│ LIMITATIONS: SLOW RESPONSE TO RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
This artwork explores how mycelial (fungal) networks represent and organize themselves through distributed chemical signaling rather than centralized processing. The artwork contrasts the physical structure of a mycelial network with its functional self-organizational model.
The top section shows the actual physical mycelial network with hyphae (≈≈≈) connecting various nodes and resources. The bottom section illustrates how the network represents itself functionally through chemical signaling patterns that create a distributed intelligence system.
Rather than having a centralized “brain,” mycelial networks organize through resource assessment, chemical signal exchange, and nutrient allocation governed by simple rules that create complex emergent behaviors. This [4,4] cell in our matrix reveals a fundamentally different approach to network organization:
- Information processing occurs throughout the entire network rather than in specialized nodes
- Intelligence emerges from simple chemical signaling rules without central coordination
- Resource allocation decisions are made collectively rather than hierarchically
- Memory exists in network structure modifications rather than specialized storage
The mycelial network’s self-model is inherently tied to its physical structure - it “thinks” with its entire body through chemical exchanges. This contrasts sharply with neural networks (both biological and digital) where processing and structure are more distinct.
This representation highlights both strengths (resilience, efficiency, adaptability) and limitations (slower response times, vulnerability to rapid environmental changes) of mycelial information processing compared to other network types.