1,304 research outputs found
Invariant template matching in systems with spatiotemporal coding: a vote for instability
We consider the design of a pattern recognition that matches templates to
images, both of which are spatially sampled and encoded as temporal sequences.
The image is subject to a combination of various perturbations. These include
ones that can be modeled as parameterized uncertainties such as image blur,
luminance, translation, and rotation as well as unmodeled ones. Biological and
neural systems require that these perturbations be processed through a minimal
number of channels by simple adaptation mechanisms. We found that the most
suitable mathematical framework to meet this requirement is that of weakly
attracting sets. This framework provides us with a normative and unifying
solution to the pattern recognition problem. We analyze the consequences of its
explicit implementation in neural systems. Several properties inherent to the
systems designed in accordance with our normative mathematical argument
coincide with known empirical facts. This is illustrated in mental rotation,
visual search and blur/intensity adaptation. We demonstrate how our results can
be applied to a range of practical problems in template matching and pattern
recognition.Comment: 52 pages, 12 figure
Moving forward in circles: challenges and opportunities in modelling population cycles
Population cycling is a widespread phenomenon, observed across a multitude of taxa in both laboratory and natural conditions. Historically, the theory associated with population cycles was tightly linked to pairwise consumer–resource interactions and studied via deterministic models, but current empirical and theoretical research reveals a much richer basis for ecological cycles. Stochasticity and seasonality can modulate or create cyclic behaviour in non-intuitive ways, the high-dimensionality in ecological systems can profoundly influence cycling, and so can demographic structure and eco-evolutionary dynamics. An inclusive theory for population cycles, ranging from ecosystem-level to demographic modelling, grounded in observational or experimental data, is therefore necessary to better understand observed cyclical patterns. In turn, by gaining better insight into the drivers of population cycles, we can begin to understand the causes of cycle gain and loss, how biodiversity interacts with population cycling, and how to effectively manage wildly fluctuating populations, all of which are growing domains of ecological research
Observability and Synchronization of Neuron Models
Observability is the property that enables to distinguish two different
locations in -dimensional state space from a reduced number of measured
variables, usually just one. In high-dimensional systems it is therefore
important to make sure that the variable recorded to perform the analysis
conveys good observability of the system dynamics. In the case of networks
composed of neuron models, the observability of the network depends
nontrivially on the observability of the node dynamics and on the topology of
the network. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, a study of observability
is conducted using four well-known neuron models by computing three different
observability coefficients. This not only clarifies observability properties of
the models but also shows the limitations of applicability of each type of
coefficients in the context of such models. Second, a multivariate singular
spectrum analysis (M-SSA) is performed to detect phase synchronization in
networks composed by neuron models. This tool, to the best of the authors'
knowledge has not been used in the context of networks of neuron models. It is
shown that it is possible to detect phase synchronization i)~without having to
measure all the state variables, but only one from each node, and ii)~without
having to estimate the phase
Symptoms of complexity in a tourism system
Tourism destinations behave as dynamic evolving complex systems, encompassing
numerous factors and activities which are interdependent and whose
relationships might be highly nonlinear. Traditional research in this field has
looked after a linear approach: variables and relationships are monitored in
order to forecast future outcomes with simplified models and to derive
implications for management organisations. The limitations of this approach
have become apparent in many cases, and several authors claim for a new and
different attitude.
While complex systems ideas are amongst the most promising interdisciplinary
research themes emerged in the last few decades, very little has been done so
far in the field of tourism. This paper presents a brief overview of the
complexity framework as a means to understand structures, characteristics,
relationships, and explores the implications and contributions of the
complexity literature on tourism systems. The objective is to allow the reader
to gain a deeper appreciation of this point of view.Comment: 32 pages, 3 figures, 1 table; accepted in Tourism Analysi
- …