As we've talked about in a previous module a pattern is any set of correlations between the states of elements within a system
the term pattern formation then refers to the process through which this
Coherent set of associations between the Elements states is formed and persists over some period of time
it captures the essence of self-organization and emergence in all kinds of systems a
Primary question were interested in when studying any pattern is the question of how is it generated or formed?
in answering this question
We can make a fundamental distinction between those patterns that were created through
Organization being imposed by some external organization or those that were created through the pattern being internally generated
the term Pattern formation typically refers to
Internally generated patterns by Pattern formation we mean that certain systems have the ability to self organize
into structured states from initially unstructured or homogeneous states
This internal Pattern formation process is a universal phenomena as it has been identified in physical
biological economic and socio-Cultural systems
One primary characteristic of emergent Pattern formation is the absence of centralized control?
Regulating the process this process of emergent pattern formation uses only
local dynamics to influence the system's Global behavior
No, single part of the organization coordinates its Macro level behavior
Thus it is typically not possible to directly control the
Macro level Pattern it is only possible to affect the micro level parts and their interactions
Some examples of emergent patterns include the ripple patterns in a sand dune created by wind or water
Swarming and flocking are well known emergent behavior in many animal and insect communities
The development of traffic patterns like Gridlock as well as the formation and adoption of new cultures are all
Entirely General rated Patterns the form out of the local interactions between the parts
Central characteristic of internally generated patterns is
Positive Feedback positive feedback is a process whereby more baguettes more
That is to say the more we have of something the more we will get a bit in the future
Compound interest on a bank account is an example of positive feedback
The more money in the account the more interest that will accrue
Which will result in there being more money in the accounts in the future which will feed back to generate more interest Etc
With Pattern formation this positive Feedback works to enable some small
possibly Random event to take hold within a system and get amplified into a global pattern
For example we can see positive feedback at work in the formation of sand Dunes
Wind flowing across the sand carries small Grains of sand with it slight
unevenness in the surface of the ground creates a greater Likelihood of Grains at that high point of resistance
creating an accumulation that then
Increases the size of this small lump which then feeds back to increase the Likelihood of more grains
Collecting at this point in this way over time a sad june can form but of course the sand dune cannot go on
Building up forever as it gets higher besides get steeper, and it becomes easier for Grains to slide off
This is the negative feedback that places constraints on the patterns formation
The fully covered Pattern of the sand Dunes or wind Ripples is the product of many of these dunes
building up until they meet each other to create a complete pattern
Another example is the formation of convection cells within heated water?
convection cells in the water
Emerge that transport the heat to the Cooler regions near the surface of the liquid
Where the heat is then given off while at the same time?
Cooled liquid is pushed to the bottom to be reheated in so doing creating a circular motion in the water and the formation
of a pattern through their internal interaction between the warm and cold water
similar patterns of Hexagons and stripes can be found in very different physical and biological systems for instance
Similar striped patterns are observed on the skin of Zebra and on human fingertips
and
Foraging is another example of patent formation through positive feedback
There is no centralized organization within an ant colony
The high level of coordination is achieved through the exchange of chemical pheromones between ants
Directly and to ant as a means of communication
when an and finds a food source it will excrete a
Pheromone on its way back to the colony other ants then pick up on this and follow the source if they to
Find food
They will also leave a pheromone trail thus over time a stronger scent will build up
Feeding back to induce more ants to follow
This is again a form of positive feedback that has led to the formation of the global Pattern out of local interactions
Another example within social systems would be the development of open source projects
many open source projects are initiated but only a few become large-scale stable patterns of organization like
Wikipedia Or wordpress
Again, this is a product of positive feedback the more people
Participating in using the system the more promotion and exposure we'll get and the more attractive it will become for others to join
All of these examples one can note how it was in some way the energy
That was being inputted to the system that enabled their internal patent form whether it was the wind moving the sand grains
The heat moving the water the food for the ants or people's work and attention driving the social organization
Emergent Pattern formation may be internally generated
But it typically requires some input of energy and this can help us in understanding why the process takes place?
Often the elements in the system organize themselves to better intercept and transform the energy source either
randomly or purposefully in many physical systems
This is a somewhat random process with the accumulation of sand Dunes
It was the random difference in the surface that enabled some areas to harness the winds Force towards building up their structure
But in many biological systems this process is less random and in social systems it can be entirely purposeful
in these cases there is a random arrangement of elements on one level and there is some free energy source available within the
environments with the paths being only capable of intercepting that energy source through forming a particular global pattern
Any set of components that can form the particular pattern will then be able to access the energy and this will create?
positive Feedback whereby this particular organization can get more energy and thus
Redistribute more to its constituent elements this means that more elements will be attracted to that configuration
Which will lead to the interception of More energy ETc a positive feedback
For example we can understand evolution in this fashion
Many of the energy sources that creatures use are only accessible by many different parts coordinating their activities towards
intercepting and transforming that resource
examples would include
Photosynthesis with implants and Mammalian digestion these activities take the coordination of millions of cells and tissues in
Isolation none of the parts will be able to intercept these energy sources
This idea is also captured in the theory of symbiogenesis
Which propounds the idea that several essential organelles of eukaryotic cells?
Originated as a symbiosis between separate single-celled organisms
different more rudimentary
Organisms combine to form more complex organisms that were then capable of differentiating
Their internal features towards achieving greater overall functionality and thus becoming potentially more successful and prolific
for example some coral can intercept and process light through
photosynthesis by
Ingesting an algae that then forms part of the coral structure the algae can be found in the tissues of the coral
producing food through photosynthesis
Which is then taken in by the coral and in return the host coral gives the algae a habitat?
this process of patent formation can then be understood as a form of
adaptation a process whereby the system adapts to its environment
that is to say that emergent pattern formation is a process that involves the interaction between the system and its
environments where by the parts of the system organize themselves in response to changes in the
Environments in so doing we get the formation of higher-level patterns to intercept new resources as a combined organization
For example we can ask how do we get life from nonliving?
elements from the perspective of physics the primary difference between an inanimate
Composite of Carbon atoms and a living system
Is that the latter can intercept and process energy within their environments?
But to do this the parts have to be arranged in a particular fashion there must be synergies between them
one formulation of this theory based on
thermodynamic principles
Posits that when a combination of atoms is driven by a source of external energy such as sunlight and surrounded by heated
Environments such as the sea or atmosphere the system will often slowly
Restructure itself so as to dissipate more energy over time this may lead under certain conditions to Inanimate matter
over prolonged periods of time
adopting key Physical attributes associated with living systems
the mit researcher Jeremy
England who formalized a theory of this kind?
Stated it directly when he said quote you
Start with a random clump of atoms and if you shine light on it for long enough
It should not be so surprising that you get a plant's
A
Simple illustration of Pattern formation within a social system can help us to clarify the basic
Constituents of this process take 10 beekeepers that all need to purchase sugar to feed their bees
But they each have only a limited budget if they each purchase in isolation
They would have to buy in individual packets from the local shop
Which would cost them too much to make it viable if however they formed one organization
they will be able to go directly to the distributor and purchase in bulk for the entire group at A
discount rate making a viable option for all
We can see in this illustration how under initial conditions where there was a lack of organization
That is to say patent they were not able to intercept the resources but by forming some pattern of organization
That is to say communicating a plan collecting all the money purchasing the sugar and then distributing it all of which would require
Significant organization, they were able to intercept the resources that made the organization more viable and capable of developing
This same process is pervasive throughout
Socio-economic systems as social systems are not dependent upon randomness in this process of Pattern formation, but with the cognitive
capabilities of the individuals can identify and purposely work towards higher levels of organization