Foraging ants as liquid brains: Movement heterogeneity shapes collective efficiency.

Area of Science:

• Collective intelligence
• Animal behavior
• Complex systems

Background:

• Liquid brains conceptualize systems without central control, where collective outcomes arise from local interactions.
• Connectivity in such systems often scales with population density for efficient information transfer.
• In sparse conditions, individual movement is hypothesized to be crucial for maintaining collective efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that movement behavior shapes connectivity and optimizes collective foraging efficiency in ants.
• To investigate the role of distinct movement patterns in balancing exploration and exploitation during foraging.
• To understand the mechanisms underlying collective intelligence in biological systems without central control.

Main Methods:

• Empirical measurement of ant movement behavior in *Aphaenogaster senilis*.
• Characterization of foraging dynamics across large spatiotemporal scales.
• Integration of observed movement heterogeneity into a neuronal-like model to replicate foraging efficiency.

Main Results:

• A simple feedback mechanism, mediated by local interactions, governs ant foraging patterns.
• Two distinct movement behaviors, recruits and scouts, were identified and quantified.
• Recruits facilitated information transfer and exploitation, while scouts discovered new resources, demonstrating a balance between exploration and exploitation.

Conclusions:

• Distinct movement patterns in *Aphaenogaster senilis* are an adaptive mechanism for optimizing foraging efficiency.
• The interplay between local interactions and movement behaviors is key to collective intelligence in this ant species.
• Incorporating biologically grounded insights into complex systems frameworks enhances understanding of collective intelligence.