Information structure of heterogeneous criticality in a fish school.
Takayuki Niizato, Kotaro Sakamoto, Yoh-Ichi Mototake, Hisashi Murakami, Takenori Tomaru
Scientific reports November 30, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79232-2 via PubMed
Summary
Integrated information theory (IIT), which measures consciousness via information integration, can be applied to non-biological systems. In schooling fish (Plecoglossus altivelis), group integrity (Φ) was highest at the critical state. Multiple levels of criticality existed as distinct subgroups within the school, and these fragmented critical subgroups coexisted with the group's overall criticality. The distribution of high-criticality subgroups was uneven across time and space. Fish in high-criticality subgroups were less affected by internal and external stimuli than those in low-criticality subgroups. These results align with prior interpretations of critical phenomena and provide a new view of empirical critical-state dynamics.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Schooling fish (Plecoglossus altivelis) |
| Keywords | Heterogeneous criticality Integrated information theory |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key finding | Group integrity (Φ) was maximized at the critical state, with multiple fragmented critical subgroups coexisting alongside overall group criticality, and core fish in high-criticality subgroups were less affected by stimuli. |
Abstract
Integrated information theory (IIT) assesses the degree of consciousness in living organisms from an information-theoretic perspective. This theory can be generalised to other systems, including those exhibiting criticality. In this study, we applied IIT to the collective behaviour of Plecoglossus altivelis and observed that the group integrity (Φ) was maximised at the critical state. Multiple levels of criticality were identified within the group, existing as distinct subgroups. Moreover, these fragmented critical subgroups coexisted alongside the overall criticality of the group. The distribution of high-criticality subgroups was heterogeneous across both time and space. Notably, core fish in the high-criticality subgroups were less affected by internal and external stimuli compared to those in low-criticality subgroups. These findings are consistent with previous interpretations of critical phenomena and offer a new perspective on the dynamics of an empirical critical state.