Action as Fungibility of Computation 🍄‍🟫

Fungibility, the property of interchangeability between equivalent units, intersects with computational concepts in the context of fungal networks, where electrical signaling in mycelium (the root-like structure of fungi) enables novel computing paradigms. This emerging field explores how fungi’s biological processes can mimic computational logic. ### Fungal Computing Basics 1. **Electrical Signaling**: - Fungi like *Pleurotus djamor* (pink oyster mushroom) exhibit electrical spiking activity in their mycelium networks, similar to neurons[6][8]. These spikes can represent binary states (0/1) or more complex patterns, forming the basis for data processing. - Stimulating a fruit body (e.g., mechanically or chemically) triggers electrical responses that propagate through the network, enabling communication between distant parts of the organism[6][8]. 2. **Mycelium as a Circuit**: - The mycelium’s branching structure acts as a living circuit board. Its geometry influences computational capabilities, allowing it to solve problems in **computational geometry** (e.g., shortest-path optimization)[9]. - By altering environmental conditions (e.g., nutrients, temperature), researchers can “reprogram” the network’s structure and functionality[9]. 3. **Fungibility in Computation**: - Fungibility here refers to the interchangeable role of mycelium pathways in processing information. Unlike rigid silicon circuits, fungal networks dynamically adapt, allowing different regions to take on computational tasks interchangeably[6][8]. - Example: A stimulus applied to one fruit body alters electrical activity in others, demonstrating distributed, non-local computation[6]. ### Applications and Challenges - **Neuromorphic Computing**: Fungal networks mimic neural architectures, with potential for low-energy, self-healing biocomputers[8]. - **Environmental Sensing**: Fungi could integrate with ecosystems to monitor pollutants or soil health, processing data via natural growth patterns[6]. - **Limitations**: Current research is experimental, with challenges in scalability and precise control over fungal behavior[6][9]. ### Key Example: Logical Operations In a model, fungal mycelium’s electrical spikes were used to implement **AND/OR logic gates**, where inputs (stimuli) and outputs (spike patterns) correlate to Boolean functions[6]. The structure of the mycelium determines the “circuitry” of these operations, showcasing how biological adaptability enables fungible computation. This fusion of biology and computing highlights fungi’s potential as sustainable, adaptive processors, though practical implementations remain in early stages.Sources[1] Fungibility: What it means, and why it matters - CoinSwitch https://coinswitch.co/switch/personal-finance/what-is-fungibility/[2] Fungibility: What It Means and Why It Matters - Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fungibility.asp[3] Fungibility: Definition and Examples, How It Works - Strike.money https://www.strike.money/stock-market/fungible[4] [PDF] Action, or the fungibility of computation - CiteSeerX https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=74e7f87968f5390b3bf7413f2e638935afef8e06[5] Business Term of the Day - Fungibility - English Editorial Services https://www.englisheditorialservices.com/business_terms/fungibility/[6] Towards fungal computer - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6227805/[7] Fungibility - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungibility[8] Inside the lab that's growing mushroom computers - Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/technology/unconventional-computing-lab-mushroom/[9] Researchers turned fungi into computers in new breakthrough https://www.fanaticalfuturist.com/2021/06/researchers-turned-fungi-into-computers-in-new-breakthrough/

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