Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-making
Abstract The precise modulation of activity through inhibitory signals ensures that both insect colonies and neural circuits operate efficiently and adaptively, highlighting the fundamental importance of inhibition in biological systems. Modulatory signals are produced in various contexts and are kn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Communications Physics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02046-9 |
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| author | David March-Pons Romualdo Pastor-Satorras M. Carmen Miguel |
| author_facet | David March-Pons Romualdo Pastor-Satorras M. Carmen Miguel |
| author_sort | David March-Pons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The precise modulation of activity through inhibitory signals ensures that both insect colonies and neural circuits operate efficiently and adaptively, highlighting the fundamental importance of inhibition in biological systems. Modulatory signals are produced in various contexts and are known for subtly shifting the probability of receiver behaviors based on response thresholds. Here we propose a non-linear function to introduce inhibitory responsiveness in collective decision-making inspired by honeybee house-hunting. We show that, compared with usual linear functions, non-linear responses enhance final consensus and reduce deliberation time. This improvement comes at the cost of reduced accuracy in identifying the best option. Nonetheless, for value-based tasks, the benefits of faster consensus and enhanced decision-making might outweigh this drawback. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a68b3c9f95de4659a33fbad26a4d08a2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2399-3650 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-a68b3c9f95de4659a33fbad26a4d08a22025-08-20T02:49:32ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Physics2399-36502025-03-01811710.1038/s42005-025-02046-9Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-makingDavid March-Pons0Romualdo Pastor-Satorras1M. Carmen Miguel2Departament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaDepartament de Física, Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaDepartament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de BarcelonaAbstract The precise modulation of activity through inhibitory signals ensures that both insect colonies and neural circuits operate efficiently and adaptively, highlighting the fundamental importance of inhibition in biological systems. Modulatory signals are produced in various contexts and are known for subtly shifting the probability of receiver behaviors based on response thresholds. Here we propose a non-linear function to introduce inhibitory responsiveness in collective decision-making inspired by honeybee house-hunting. We show that, compared with usual linear functions, non-linear responses enhance final consensus and reduce deliberation time. This improvement comes at the cost of reduced accuracy in identifying the best option. Nonetheless, for value-based tasks, the benefits of faster consensus and enhanced decision-making might outweigh this drawback.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02046-9 |
| spellingShingle | David March-Pons Romualdo Pastor-Satorras M. Carmen Miguel Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-making Communications Physics |
| title | Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-making |
| title_full | Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-making |
| title_fullStr | Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-making |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-making |
| title_short | Non-linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision-making |
| title_sort | non linear inhibitory responses enhance performance in collective decision making |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02046-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidmarchpons nonlinearinhibitoryresponsesenhanceperformanceincollectivedecisionmaking AT romualdopastorsatorras nonlinearinhibitoryresponsesenhanceperformanceincollectivedecisionmaking AT mcarmenmiguel nonlinearinhibitoryresponsesenhanceperformanceincollectivedecisionmaking |