A. S. Iberall

Homeokinetics: A Physical Science for Complex Systems

A physical basis for reductionism is put forth in the form of five propositions that bridge levels of organization in natural phenomena. The outlook is that complex systems and processes all have to be traced back to physical law, which applies the only general scientific constraint on reality, but that out of physical law a hierarchy of organization emerges. The basic extension of normal physics in this homeokinetic field form is to complex systems. In such systems the repetitive units of concern are internally complex and exhibit elaborate internal time-delayed processes, for example, memory.

The Organizing Principle of Complex Living Systems

A scheme is outlined for a useful way to think about the complex biological organism, man. It is based on physiological findings that the regulating and control functions in the system make use of active processes, exhibiting oscillatory properties [1]. The resulting homeostatic regulation, which was the key concept proposed by Bernard, Sechenov, and Cannon for the living system [2], emerges from mediation of these oscillators. Because of its dynamic character, the scheme is renamed homeokinesis [3]. The concept may be extended to man’s behavioral complex. In outline, it touches on all the time or frequency domains in life—that is, of the many episodes in man.

A Physics for Complex Systems

The fundamental problem for a science of complex systems is to explain how diverse forms and evolutionary processes arise from the operation of the few principles and materials required for a physical description of nature. A theory is offered here to account for emergent properties in complex systems. Its central theme is that the emergence of structure as well as process is a stability transition in which new form arises because changing parameters have made the less structured state unstable. A generalization of the Reynolds number concept of hydrodynamics is suggested as a criterion for emergence, and a number of examples of its application are presented including social theory (see also Iberall, Chapter 28).

A global model of neuronal command-control systems

In learning of the death of Lars Onsager, friend and great scholar, it seemed appropriate to us, as a small tribute to his memory and his interests, to present some ,of our speculations regarding the organization of the nervous system. We hope that this essay may provide useful insights into such organization. We offer it in full awareness that it represents an oversimplification of the problem at hand and that its global extent is much too broad to be considered critical. We write it, nevertheless, because we consider that on certain occasions a use of metaphors about the intrinsic processes in a complex system may offer more to human discourse and understanding than the more precise but often cryptic language of the specialist. A recent paper of ours (Iberall and Llinas, in press) presented a cybernetic view of command-control in complex living systems and offered some central ideas reached after a number of years of collaborative discourse. New advances in our biological and physical understanding, and further discussion, have led to the development of the following set of hypothetical theses for command-control in living systems, including memory. These theses are cast as a global model at the level of single cells. However, elaboration to the level of a brain, even a human brain, seems to us to be considerably simplified when the dynamic topology of the theses considered here are

Anatomy and steady flow characteristics of the arterial system with an introduction to its pulsatile characteristics

Abstract For the past thirty years Greens table in Glassers Medical Physics [6] has been used as the common quantitative source for data on the arterial tree in mammals. The present paper updates that table by coordinating additional anatomical data from man and dog into a unified model of branching levels. The model and data appear to be consistent as to geometry, topology, and fluid resistance, as well as in number, size, and volume, of tubes. Application of such quantitative modeling to two problems is sketchily presented. The first application concerns the way the quantitative modeling information is involved in the treatment of pulsatile flow in the arterial system. The second application adduces some evidence that the wide resistive range of real arterial systems (as opposed to the average model developed) should be interpreted as mean power regulation by the system, rather than mean pressure regulation.

Mineral remains of early life on earth? On mars?

Abstract The oldest sedimentary rocks on Earth, the 3.8‐Ga Isua Iron‐Formation in southwestern Greenland, are metamorphosed past the point where organic‐walled fossils would remain. Acid residues and thin sections of these rocks reveal ferric microstructures that have filamentous, hollow rod, and spherical shapes not characteristic of crystalline minerals. Instead, they resemble ferric‐coated remains of bacteria. Modern so‐called iron bacteria were therefore studied to enhance a search image for oxide minerals precipitated by early bacteria. Iron bacteria become coated with ferrihydrite, a metastable mineral that converts to hematite, which is stable under high temperatures. If these unusual morphotypes are mineral remains of microfossils, then life must have evolved somewhat earlier than 3.8 Ga, and may have involved the interaction of sediments and molecular oxygen in water, with iron as a catalyst. Timing is constrained by the early in fall of planetary materials that would have heated the planets sur...

Blood flow and oxygen uptake in mammals

Data on the variation of blood flow and oxygen uptake with weightW are reex-amined for mammals at rest. It is concluded that blood flow varies asW0.85, while oxygen uptake varies asW0.79. The suggestion is made that oxygen uptake for small mammals is often reported with values higher than that given by the above relation, whereas their sleeping consumption is likely appreciably less, i.e., these animals, by their CV and nervous system design, are excitable or “jittery”.In a steady state range of sustainable activity, near universal weight specific blood flow oxygen uptake curves are estimated for mammals of all weights, for the range of states from sleep to peak sustained aerobic activity. It is hoped that these data provide an acceptable experimental data base for study of the design characteristics of tissue perfusion and oxygen transport in the average mammalian microvasculature.

Does Intention Have a Characteristic Fast Time Scale

Abstract The homeokinetic approach to behavior (applied to humans, the approach is described in Iberall & McCulloch, 1969; and more generally in Soodak & Iberall, 1978) is extended in this article to argue that free will is exercised at a temporal scale of approximately 6 s. The homeokinetic theory of complex physical systems, including living systems, analyzes activity into component sets of oscillators, action modes, each with a characteristic time scale. A full set of nested time scales involved can be thought of as a spectrum. In this article, I argue that a survey of human action modes, as a spectral analysis, allows for the free election of acts only at the 6-s scale. Intention (per Hebb, see Wolman, 1973, p. 437): central guidance of behavior by an enduring system that maintains its independence despite sensory input. Volition: act of willing or choosing. This article is concerned with establishing a physical foundation for such actions in mammals, particularly human.

Thermodynamics and Complex Systems

This chapter describes a generalized thermodynamic construct competent to deal with simple or complex natural field systems, at all levels of organization. The construct applies to cosmic, galactic, stellar, planetary, chemical, biological, and social systems and has the capability to deal not only with the ongoing dynamics of these fields, but also with their slower evolution. To understand motion and change in these field systems, it is necessary to distinguish between fluid processes, which can develop patterns, and condensation processes, which can create more permanent forms. Both processes break symmetry. Although the symmetry-breaking involved in fluid processes is well known, the symmetry-breaking occurring in condensation of matter (self-organization of form) is more obscure. Three properties characterize condensed matter: rigidity, an elastic limit, and flow. Flow processes involved in matter condensation may be either external or internal. Organization of form occurs by an external, in part radial, flow process that brings together atomistic constituents. The constituents develop an elastic limit by giving up an energy of binding. The cooperative binding also enhances the rigidity of the field. The field can be stressed by local processes up to the elastic limit without appreciable change in form. At stresses beyond that limit, the form of the system can be degraded by induced, new flow processes, arising either within the previously bound atomistic constituents or outside.

What is “language” that can facilitate the flow of information? a contribution to a fundamental theory of language and communication☆

Abstract A theory of language is derived for complex systems by contrasting the difference between “hard” systems and “soft” systems. Complexity in a field system made up of atomistic entities is defined by the capability of the atomistic-like entities in soft systems to absorb energy internally into fluid-like, gel-like, dissipative processes rather than to equipartition energy rapidly among all degrees of atomistic freedom. Language then emerges as the “mechanistic” linkages that can catalytically switch or evoke changed atomistic states in such “soft” systems. A note on the source of syntax is also provided.