Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
07:34
A Cost-effective and Reliable Method to Predict Mechanical Stress in Single-use and Standard Pumps
Published on: August 5, 2015
When prediction fails: a computational complexity view of stress
Sergey Budaev1, Floriana Lai1, Rachael Morgan1
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Organisms use predictive control, but stress occurs when environments are unpredictable. This study suggests that simplifying behavior complexity may be a beneficial adaptation to uncontrollable stress, aiding survival.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Systems Biology
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Organisms function as predictive systems, anticipating future demands and adjusting physiology/behavior.
- Stress emerges when environmental challenges surpass anticipated ranges, pushing regulatory systems to their limits.
- Such stressful conditions often involve uncertainty, unpredictability, and uncontrollability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate control system function when prediction and behavioral control fail.
- To hypothesize the dynamic discounting of obsolete feedback controllers under stress.
- To explore the relationship between reduced behavioral complexity and stress.
Main Methods:
- Focus on control systems failing to predict and control behavior.
- Hypothesize dynamic discounting of obsolete feedback controllers.
- Review literature on behavioral complexity as a stress indicator.
Main Results:
- Feedback controllers become obsolete and are dynamically discounted under conditions of failed prediction and control.
- Computational complexity is expected to reduce controller program size and output complexity.
- Reduced behavioral complexity may indicate developing stress.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic discounting of obsolete controllers offers a fitness benefit during unpredictable stress.
- Decreased computational complexity in behavior is a potential indicator of stress.
- Methods and R packages exist for measuring behavioral complexity.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Design Consideration
Designing a structure involves a series of considerations, primarily the material's ultimate strength, calculated through tests that measure changes under increased force until the material reaches its breaking point or limit. The ultimate load, where the material breaks, is divided by its original cross-sectional area, resulting in the ultimate normal stress or strength. The ultimate shearing stress is another significant factor taken into account.
The factor of safety is another key aspect...
The factor of safety is another key aspect...
01:22Problem Solving on Stress and Strain
Stress is a quantity that describes the magnitude of a force that causes deformation, generally defined as internal force per unit area. When forces pull on an object and cause its elongation, like the stretching of an elastic band, it is called tensile stress. When forces cause the compression of an object, it is known as compressive stress. When an object is being squeezed uniformly from all sides, like a submarine in the depths of the ocean, we call this kind of stress bulk stress (or volume...
01:15Stress: General Loading Conditions
To grasp the intricacy of real-world conditions where multiple loads are applied simultaneously to a structure, one might visualize a section passing through a specific point within a body, aligned parallel to the xy plane. This section is subjected to various forces, including original loads, normal forces, and shearing forces.
The shearing force, possessing potential directionality within the plane of the section, is simplified into two component forces running parallel to the x and y axes.
The shearing force, possessing potential directionality within the plane of the section, is simplified into two component forces running parallel to the x and y axes.
01:23Components of Stress
Stress analysis under multiple loading conditions is intricate, necessitating a comprehensive grasp of normal and shearing stresses. Consider a small cube at point O, subjected to stress on all six faces, visible or not. Normal stress components σx, σy, σz act perpendicularly to the x, y, and z axes. Shearing stress components τxy and τxz are exerted on faces perpendicular to these axes.
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and opposite to those on the...
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and opposite to those on the...
01:23Stresses under Combined Loadings
When analyzing a bent tube with a circular cross-section subjected to multiple forces, it is crucial to determine the stress distribution in order to maintain structural integrity under varied load conditions.
The process begins by slicing the tube at critical points and analyzing the internal forces and stress components at these sections, focusing on the centroid. Normal stresses, generated by axial forces and bending moments, are either compressive or tensile and vary across the section from...
The process begins by slicing the tube at critical points and analyzing the internal forces and stress components at these sections, focusing on the centroid. Normal stresses, generated by axial forces and bending moments, are either compressive or tensile and vary across the section from...
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...