The geometry of decision-making in individuals and collectives.

ABSTRACT: Choosing among spatially distributed options is a central challenge for animals, from deciding among alternative potential food sources or refuges to choosing with whom to associate. Using an integrated theoretical and experimental approach (employing immersive virtual reality), we consider the interplay between movement and vectorial integration during decision-making regarding two, or more, options in space. In computational models of this process, we reveal the occurrence of spontaneous and abrupt "critical" transitions (associated with specific geometrical relationships) whereby organisms spontaneously switch from averaging vectorial information among, to suddenly excluding one among, the remaining options. This bifurcation process repeats until only one option-the one ultimately selec

SUBMITTER: Sridhar VH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8685676 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature