Cellular Automata and Complex Systems: Methods for Modeling Biological Phenomena

Bilotta (general psychology, U. of Calabria, Italy) and Pantano (mathematical physics, U. of Calabria) provide a description of the use of cellular automata (CA) in modeling physical, biological, social, economic, and psychological phenomena. It covers current research on such discrete dynamical systems as one and two-dimensional cellular automata and illustrates how these systems can be used for artistic purposes by translating their mathematical configurations into visual media and music. Chapters cover topics including: basic definitions, modeling biological systems, cellular automata metrics, searching for self-replicating systems, language structures in cellular automata, a genetic approach to the study of self-replication, and from rhythm to sound and music. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)