An Entropic Gradient Structure in the Network Dynamics of a Slime Mold

The approach to equilibrium in certain dynamical systems can be usefully described terms of information-theoretic functionals. Well-studied models this kind are Markov processes, chemical reaction networks, and replicator dynamics, for all which it proven, under suitable assumptions, that the relative entropy (informational divergence) state system with respect an is nonincreasing over time. This work reviews another recent result type, emerged study network optimization dynamics acellular slime mold, Physarum polycephalum. In setting, not only nonincreasing, but its evolution time crucial stability entire system, towards attracted proves a global minimizer cost network.