Evolvability by Mimicking Common Properties of a Nervous System and Computer Software

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rataj, Artur

Affiliations: Institute of Theoretical and Applied Computer Science, Bałtycka 5, Gliwice, Poland. arataj@iitis.pl

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Institute of Theoretical and Applied Computer Science, Bałtycka 5, Gliwice, Poland.

Abstract: We study, on the basis of a simple neural–network like system that we call a spatial network, how several properties of two evolvable systems: a nervous system and computer software, could influence on the evolvability of a genetic algorithm. The following properties are modelled: hierarchical modularity, mirroring, extensive variability and quantitative genetic traits. By mirroring we understand mimicking of the structure of processed data by the structure of the processing algorithm. We estimate the evolvability of several examples of the presented networks, which perform simple image processing tasks, like stereo–to–depth. The evaluation is done by studying the size of these networks' genotype.

Keywords: nervous system, computer software, genetic algorithm, evolution, hierarchical modularity

DOI: 10.3233/FI-2014-1013

Journal: Fundamenta Informaticae, vol. 131, no. 2, pp. 253-278, 2014