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Modular Interdependency in Complex Dynamical Systems

Modular Interdependency in Complex Dynamical Systems
Modular Interdependency in Complex Dynamical Systems
Simon’s characterisation of modularity in dynamical systems describes subsystems as having dynamics that are approximately independent of those of other subsystems (in the short term). This fits with the general intuition that modules must, by definition, be approximately independent. In the evolution of complex systems, such modularity may enable subsystems to be modified and adapted independently of other subsystems whereas in a non-modular system, modifications to one part of the system may result in deleterious side-effects elsewhere in the system. But this notion of modularity and its effect on evolvability is not well-quantified and is rather simplistic. In particular, modularity need not imply that inter-module dependencies are weak or unimportant. In dynamical systems this is acknowledged by Simon’s suggestion that, in the long term, the dynamical behaviours of subsystems do interact with one another, albeit in an ‘aggregate’ manner – but this kind of inter-module interaction is omitted in models of modularity for evolvability. In this brief discussion paper we seek to unify notions of modularity in dynamical systems with notions of how modularity affects evolvability. This leads to a quantifiable measure of modularity and a different understanding of its impact on evolvability.
dynamical systems, modularity, nearly-decomposable systems, evolvability
445-457
Watson, Richard A.
ce199dfc-d5d4-4edf-bd7b-f9e224c96c75
Pollack, Jordan B.
9ec3d634-1257-4bdc-b7d7-7d1aad22faf4
Watson, Richard A.
ce199dfc-d5d4-4edf-bd7b-f9e224c96c75
Pollack, Jordan B.
9ec3d634-1257-4bdc-b7d7-7d1aad22faf4

Watson, Richard A. and Pollack, Jordan B. (2005) Modular Interdependency in Complex Dynamical Systems. Artificial Life, 11 (4), 445-457.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Simon’s characterisation of modularity in dynamical systems describes subsystems as having dynamics that are approximately independent of those of other subsystems (in the short term). This fits with the general intuition that modules must, by definition, be approximately independent. In the evolution of complex systems, such modularity may enable subsystems to be modified and adapted independently of other subsystems whereas in a non-modular system, modifications to one part of the system may result in deleterious side-effects elsewhere in the system. But this notion of modularity and its effect on evolvability is not well-quantified and is rather simplistic. In particular, modularity need not imply that inter-module dependencies are weak or unimportant. In dynamical systems this is acknowledged by Simon’s suggestion that, in the long term, the dynamical behaviours of subsystems do interact with one another, albeit in an ‘aggregate’ manner – but this kind of inter-module interaction is omitted in models of modularity for evolvability. In this brief discussion paper we seek to unify notions of modularity in dynamical systems with notions of how modularity affects evolvability. This leads to a quantifiable measure of modularity and a different understanding of its impact on evolvability.

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Published date: 2005
Keywords: dynamical systems, modularity, nearly-decomposable systems, evolvability
Organisations: Agents, Interactions & Complexity

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 260621
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/260621
PURE UUID: 563bf746-ec00-4bc4-9388-9a5a960f692c
ORCID for Richard A. Watson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2521-8255

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 02 Mar 2005
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:21

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Contributors

Author: Richard A. Watson ORCID iD
Author: Jordan B. Pollack

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