Modulation of intracellular rhythm and behavior of Physarum plasmodium under the condition of mutual entrainment

Abstract

An organism is considered to have dynamics based on some interactions, and shows complicated behavior. We suggested an experiment to investigate the interaction between an artificial oscillator, which causes entrainment, and metabolic oscillation in an organism, in this case Physarum plasmodium. A coupled oscillator model for Physarum shows mutual entrainment among the oscillators and formed a phase pattern which is shown in tactics response of Physarum. The results shows that mutual entrainment could be observed, intracellular rhythm was modulated with artificial oscillation and plasmodium migrated according to the orientation of intracellular rhythm modulation. These results are not contradictory with past investigation of tactic response.