Coarse-grained analysis of stochasticity-induced switching between collective motion states.

ABSTRACT: A single animal group can display different types of collective motion at different times. For a one-dimensional individual-based model of self-organizing group formation, we show that repeated switching between distinct ordered collective states can occur entirely because of stochastic effects. We introduce a framework for the coarse-grained, computer-assisted analysis of such stochasticity-induced switching in animal groups. This involves the characterization of the behavior of the system with a single dynamically meaningful "coarse observable" whose dynamics are described by an effective Fokker-Planck equation. A "lifting" procedure is presented, which enables efficient estimation of the necessary macroscopic quantities for this description through short bursts of appropriately initiali

SUBMITTER: Kolpas A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1851594 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature