Intelligent Behavioral Mechanisms of the Unicellular Paramecium from a Micro-robot Perspective

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12140
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 61040:Soft computing-related
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: Kunita Itsuki 琉球大学, 工学部, 准教授 (20645478)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 学習記憶能 / 繊毛虫ゾウリムシ / 膜興奮ダイナミクス / Hodgkin-Huxleyモデル / Fitz-Hugh Nagumoモデル / 膜電位

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The unicellular ciliate Paramecium exhibited multiple behavioral patterns when it collided with an obstacle, even when the speed and contact angle were the same. It was also found that when the Paramecium repeatedly collided with the end of the elongated narrow tube, it gradually became able to retreat long distances, and this retreat ability could be held for 0.5~1 minute. These behaviors of the Paramecium are represented by a mathematical model based on membrane excitation dynamics similar to those of neurons in higher organisms.

Free Research Field

行動学、数理生物学、知能情報学、複雑系科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

単細胞生物の繊毛虫ゾウリムシの行動は、高等生物の神経細胞と同様の膜興奮ダイナミクス（膜電気現象）で記述できることから、ゾウリムシは「泳ぐ神経細胞」と呼ばれる。それゆえ、ゾウリムシの環境適応能や記憶能などのしくみを膜興奮ダイナミクスに基づいて理解することができれば、生物の知性の起源の一端を知ることができる可能性がある。また、数理モデルによるゾウリムシの行動再現は、ロボットの移動アルゴリズムなどの工学的な応用を可能にする有用性がある。