Threshold sensing yields optimal path formation in Physarum polycephalum -- but the mould does not know

Abstract: A circuital network model for the foraging behaviour of Physarum polycephalum proves that threshold sensing yields the emergence of optimal paths that connect food sources and solve mazes. These findings are in agreement with the experimental evidence of emergent problem solving by P. polycephalum and provide insight into the evolution of primitive intelligence. Our results can also inspire the development of threshold-based algorithms for computing applications.