Collective Intelligence Laboratory

Collective Intelligence Laboratory

Psychological Services

Collective intelligence Architectutre
Modeling of Ensembles with Variable Structure (EVS-approach)
Psychosemantic study of connections between meaning attribution and age, gender and temperament.

International Collaboration
Educational activity
Organisational Activity
Staff and contacts

Current Projects

Project name: Collective intelligence Architectutre

The purpose of the Collective Intelligence Laboratory is to study the dynamics, capabilities, limitations and applications of systems composed of embodied, strongly situated, weakly coupled agents interacting without hierarchical control. Systems studied range from social organisms, through social insect colonies and on to societies and economic systems. Methodologies include computer simulations, especially cellular automata and graphical dynamical systems, formal theoretical modeling and analysis, and observation of natural systems. Applications to parallel processing algorithms , neural representation, functional differentiation in biological development and psychotherapeutics are also under investigation.

Directions of the project:

Development of formal models of collective intelligence.

Study of transient induced global response synchronization (TIGoRS) in complex systems.

Application of TIGoRS to the design of parallel processing algorithms and neural representation.

Study of intrinsic linguistic behavior in complex systems.

Study of collective intelligence as a model for a dynamic unconscious.

Study of symbol sign relationships and communication in biological systems

Relevant Publications of the lab on this project:

Books

Sulis, W. and Combs, A. (eds.) (1996) Nonlinear Dynamics in Human Behavior. Singapore: World Scientific

Trofimova I.N., Budanov V.G. (eds.) (1997). Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 1. Methodological questions. Moscow. MSSU. (in Russian).

Trofimova I.N. (ed.) (1999). Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 2. Social Processes. Moscow. Yanus. (in Russian).

Sulis W., Trofimova I. (Eds.) (2001) Nonlinear Dynamics in Life and Social Sciences. IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Trofimova I., Rand J., Nation J., Sulis W. (Eds.) (2003) Formal descriptions of developing systems. Kluwer Press, Amsterdam.

Shendyapin V., Trofimova I., Arshinov V. (2003) Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 3. Cognitive Processes. Moscow. CogitoPress. (in Russian).

Sulis, W. Archetypal Dynamics. Manuscript in progress.

Trofimova I.N. Diversity in Natural Systems. Manuscript in progress.

Articles:

Sulis, W.(1992) Tempered Neural Networks. Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Neural Networks 1992.

Sulis, W. (1993) Emergent Computation in Tempered Neural Networks 1: Dynamical Automata. Proceedings of the WCNN'93.

Sulis, W. (1993) Emergent Computation in Tempered Neural Networks 2: Computation Theory. Proceedings of the WCNN'93.

Sulis, W. (1993) Naturally Occurring Computational Systems. World Futures 39(4) 225-241

Sulis, W. (1995) Naturally Occurring Computational Systems. In Chaos Theory In Psychology and the Life Sciences. R. Robertson, A. Combs (eds). 103-122. Lawrence Erbaum. New York

Sulis, W. (1995) Driven Cellular Automata. In 1993 Lectures on Complex Systems. Lecture Volume VI in the Santa Fe Institute Studies in the Sciences of Complexity. 565-578. Addison-Wesley

Sulis, W. (1995) Causality in Naturally Occurring Computational Systems. World Futures 44 (2- 3) 129-148

Sulis, W. (1995) Driven Cellular Automata, Adaptation, and the Binding Problem. In Advances in Artificial Life, Lectures Notes in Artificial Intelligence 929. F. Moran, A. Moreno, JJ Merelo, P Chacon (eds.). 824-840. Springer-Verlag. New York

Sulis, W. (1996) A Formal Framework for the Study of Collective Intelligence. 5th Conference on Artificial Life, Kyoto, Japan.

Sulis, W. (1996) TIGoRS and Neural Codes. In Nonlinear Dynamics in Human Behavior, W. Sulis and A. Combs (Eds.) Singapore: World Scientific

Sulis, W. (1997) Fundamentals of Collective Intelligence. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Science, 1(1), 30-65.

Sulis, W. (1997) TIGoRS and Neural Codes. In Nonlinear Dynamics in Human Behaviour, W. Sulis and A. Combs (Eds.) Singapore: World Scientific.

Sulis, W. (1997) Collective Intelligence as a Model for the Unconscious. Psychological Perspectives, 35, Spring, 64-93.

Sulis, W. (1997) Collective Intelligence. In: Trofimova I.N., Budanov V.G. (eds.) (1997). Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 1. Methodological questions. Moscow. MSSU Press.

Sulis W. (1997) Tigors and Neural Codes. In: M.A.Basin, S.V. Charitonov (Eds.). Synergetics and Psychology. Sanct-Petersburg: SPBUVK.

Sulis, W. (1998) Dynamical Systems in Psychology: Linguistic Approaches. In The Complex Matters of Mind and Brain, F.Orsucci (ed.), 33-58. Singapore, World Scientific.

Sulis, W. (1998) TIGoRS as an Associative Memory in Complex Systems. Complex Systems. Proceedings of International Conference. Oxford Press.

Sulis, W. (1998) Dynamical systems in psychobiology. In Chaos, Fractals, Models, F.M. Guindani and G. Salvadori (eds.). Pavia, Italy: Italian University Press.

Sulis W. (1999) Archetypal Dynamics. Internet World Congress on Biomedical Sciences.

Sulis W. (1999) A Formal Theory of Colletive Intelligence. In: W.Tschacher, J.P.Dauwalder (Eds.) Dynamics, Synergetics, Autonomous Agents. Singapore: World Scientific.

Sulis W. (1999) Collective Intelligence. In: Trofimova I.N. (Ed.) (2000). Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 2. Social Processes. Moscow. Yanus Press. (in Russian). Pp.38-64.

Sulis W. Information representation in neural and complex systems. In : Sulis W., Trofimova I. (Eds.) (2000) Nonlinear Dynamics in Life and Social Sciences. IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Sulis W., Gupta A. Nonlinear dynamics in psychiatry. In: Sulis W., Trofimova I. (Eds.) (2000) Nonlinear Dynamics in Life and Social Sciences. IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Sulis W. (2001) A formal theory of collective intelligence. In: Szuba, T. Computational Collective Intelligence. Wiley Book Series on Parallel and Distributed Computing.

Sulis W. (2001) Collective intelligence as a model for the unconscious. In: Szuba, T. Computational Collective Intelligence. Wiley Book Series on Parallel and Distributed Computing.

Sulis W. (2001). Archetypal Dynamics in Complex Systems Perspective. Submitted to Psychological Perspectives.

Project name: Modeling of Ensembles with Variable Structure (EVS-approach)

Consideration of multi-element systems, be it brain or body of a subject, groups of subject or organizations, leads to a necessity of formal analysis of an interaction between the elements. Random graph theory (Palmer, 1985), percolation models (Grimmett, 1989), cellular automata (Burks, 1970), random boolean networks (the best review is Arbib, 1995) self-organized criticality (Bak, Tang, Wiesenfeld, 1987), or the Kauffman model (Kauffman, 1993) all constitute populations of interacting agents. Most models however consider formal populations with identical elements or possessing only a small diversity of types, strategies or rules. Also agents of some of these models interacted only locally (cellular automata, networks), or the connections, once established, are fixed, as are the vertices (percolation model, random graph model) that simulates equilibrium conditions.

A set of models that we developed in collaboration with Alexey Potapov and Nicolay Mitin from Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics (Russia) we called Ensembles with Variable Structures (EVS). EVS modeling is devoted to a study of the role of factors, such as diversity, size and sociability of a population, on its self-organization and group dynamics. The EVS are based on a spin glass algorithm, extended to a higher diversity of interacting agents with a flexible structure of connections, where agents possess an abstract set of characteristics, and seek to form connections with other agents according to the degree of compatibility between these characteristics. In addition to that our models use resource related characteristics. In the majority of EVS models each agent receives some resource or spends some resource at each time step. We consider the concept of resource broadly: it could refer to energy, matter, chemical elements, time, information, money, service, emotional exchange, and so on. EVS uses this concept in order to simulate a principle of openness of natural systems and the dissipation of energy or other resources.

Briefly the main properties of EVS models are:

Similarity with cellular automata, as the characteristics of each element are discrete numbers, and evolution occurs in discrete time;
Non-locality of connections between agents.
Population has a diversity of elements, defined via some parameters or vectors.
Agents randomly check other agents in the matter of compatibility.
The number of connections to be checked/established is limited by the parameter of sociability.
The structure of connections between elements is very dynamic and stochastic.
Mutual agreement principle: connections between agents appear only when both agents «agree» to establish it, and if one agent wants to terminate it, the connection breaks.
Each agent receives and spends some resource at each time step, allowing the simulation of resource flow through the agent and through the system.

Directions of the project:

Modeling of functional differentiation
Modeling of development of a system.
Modeling of social processes in interacting populations.
Modeling of dynamically-based and cognition-based individual differences.

Relevant Publications of the lab on this project:

Books

Trofimova I.N., Mitin N.A., Potapov A.B., Malinetzky G.G. (1997)Description of Ensembles with Variable Structure. New Models of Mathematical Psychology. Preprint N 34 of KIAM RAS. (in Russian).

Trofimova I.N. (Ed.) (2000). Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 2. Social Processes. Moscow. Yanus Press. (in Russian).

Sulis W., Trofimova I. (Eds.) (2000) Nonlinear Dynamics in Life and Social Sciences. IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Trofimova I., Rand J., Nation J., Sulis W. (Eds.) (2003) Formal descriptions of developing systems. Kluwer Press, Amsterdam.

Shendyapin V., Trofimova I., Arshinov V. (2003) Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 3. Cognitive Processes. Moscow. CogitoPress. (in Russian).

Trofimova I. Diversity in Natural Systems. Manuscript in progress.

Articles:

Trofimova I.N. Strategies of behavior as stable characteristics of individuality // Nature of Psyche. Perm. 1994. (in Russian)

Trofimova I.N. Evolutionary determination of individual differences // Individuality in the modern world. Smolensk. 1994. P.76-81. (in Russian)

Trofimova I.N. Universal principles of evolution as the foundation for analysis of human nature // Philosophical researches, N 3 1995. P.5-23. (in Russian)

Trofimova I.N. Parameters of behavioral strategies and style characteristics // Human styles: structure and functions. Ed.A.V.Libin. Moscow. Smisl, 1996. (in Russian)

Trofimova I.N. Individual differences from the point of view of the evolutionary approach // Questions of psychology, N 1 - 1996. (in Russian)

Trofimova I. (1997) Individual differences: in search of universal characteristics. In: M.A.Basin, S.V. Charitonov (Eds.). Synergetics and Psychology. Sanct-Petersburg. (In Russian).

Malinetzky G.G, Mitin N.A., Potapov A.B., Trofimova I.N. (1997). Individual differences: in search of universal characteristics// Informatics in science and education. Reports of the Conference. Moscow (in Russian).

Trofimova I.N. Analysis of behavioral strategies using cellular automaton models. Abstracts of International Psychological Congress. Montreal, 16-21 August 1996. Canada.

Trofimova I.N. (1997) Precursors of the Synergetic Approach in Psychology // Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 1. Methodological questions. Moscow. MSSU (in Russian).

Trofimova I. (1999). Functional Differentiation in Developmental Systems. In: Bar-Yam Y. (Ed.) Unifying Themes in Complex Systems. Perseus Press. Pp.557-567.

Trofimova I. (1998). From living systems to synergetic models and back. In: Synergetics. Proceedings of a workshop. Vol. 1. Moscow, MSU Press, pp.69-80 (In Russian).

Trofimova I.N., Potapov A.B. (1998) The definition of parameters for measurement in psychology. In: F.M. Guindani & G. Salvadori (Eds.) "Chaos, Models, Fractals". Italian University Press. Pavia, Italy. Pp.472-478.

Trofimova I. Potapov, A., Sulis, W. (1998) Collective Effects on Individual Behavior: In search of Universality. International Journal of Chaos Theory and Applications. V.3, N.1-2. Pp.53-63.

Trofimova I. (1999) Modeling Of The Environmental Contribution To The Genesis Of Psychiatric Illness. Papers of the International Internet Congress.

Trofimova I. (2000) Modeling of social behavior. In: Trofimova I.N. (Ed.) (2000). Synergetics and Psychology. Texts. Volume 2. Social Processes. Moscow. Yanus Press. (in Russian). Pp. 133-142.

Trofimova I. (2000) Universals and specifics in psychology. In: Sulis W., Trofimova I. (Eds.) Nonlinear Dynamics in Life and Social Sciences. IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Trofimova I. (2000) Principles, concepts and phenomena of Ensembles with Variable Structure. In: Sulis W., Trofimova I. (Eds.) Nonlinear Dynamics in Life and Social Sciences. IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Trofimova I., Mitin N. (2001) Self-organization and resource exchange in EVS modeling. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences.

Project name: Psychosemantic study of connections between meaning attribution and age, gender and temperament

While people's common association with psychology is as a study of brain function, one cannot derive the content of thinking or assign meaning to objects from brain activity only. Especially it is true for such psychological applications, as resolving conflicts and recruiting staff within organizations, managing business communication, counseling family problems, developing educational plans and methods, helping people to cope with tragic events, making recommendations regarding a choice of profession or just predicting people's choices.

A modern direction in cognitive psychology - psychosemantics, which studies how people assign meaning to objects and situations. Psychosemantic techniques originated in the USA forty years ago and became popular in Europe during the last 20 years. They were able to predict preferences in customer behavior or public choices during the last Russian presidential election.

Summary of studies on: 107 subjects (1994), 90 subjects (1997), 1039 subjects (1999-2002) and a study in political psychology.

Trofimova I.N. Interconnections of characteristics of temperament with some peculiarities of cognitive activity of human // Questions of psychology, N 1 - 1997. Pp. 74-82. (in Russian).

Trofimova I. (1999). How People of Different Age, Sex and Temperament Estimate the World. Psychological Reports. N 85/2, pp.533-552.

Watkins D., Mortazavi S., Trofimova I. (2000). Independent and interdependent conceptions of self: an investigation of age, gender and culture differences in importance and satisfaction ratings. Cross Cultural Research. N5.

Watkins D., Sachs J., Balev J., Dahlin B., Fleming J., Klis M., Lopez L.W., Mortazavi S., Trofimova I., Sunar D., Tam Sing-fai A., Van der Vijver F. (2000). Culture, gender, and the nature of self-concept: further evidence. International Journal of Psychology. In press.

Trofimova I. (2003). The Rusalov Structure of Temperament Questionnaire (STQ): results from Canadian sample. Submitted to Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Personality Processes and Individual Differences.

Trofimova I. (2003) National character: “…but one can’t take her culture out of her”? Submitted to Journal of Crosscultural Psychology.

Trofimova I. (2000). The semantic spaces of different gender and temperament. Submitted to Cognitive Psychology.

Trofimova I. Presidential Election In Russia: Semantic Space Of Men. Submitted to Political Psychology. 1999.

International Collaboration:

The Laboratory conducts joint research with the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences and with the Biological Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Educational activity

McMaster Univeristy: Teaching the courses

N 735 "Dynamical Systems I: Nonlinear Systems Theory",
N 736 "Dynamical Systems II: Ergodic Theory",
N 737 "Dynamical Systems III: Complex Systems Theory

"Foundations of collective intelligence".

Moscow Physico-Technical Institute: Teaching the course
Modeling in Psychology.

Supervising students:

1995-1996 - graduate thesis supervision “Mobility versus Stasis”, Dianne Miller - McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

1996-1997 - graduate thesis supervision, Denis Koslov, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

1997-1988 - graduate thesis supervision “Universality in Social Dynamics Models”, Dianne Miller, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

1998-1999 - undergraduate thesis supervision “Semantic Space Modeling”, Doreen Au, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

1998-1999 - undergraduate thesis supervision “Ergodic Theoretic Analysis of Human Locomotion”, Miranda Sim, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2000-2001 . - undergraduate thesis supervision “Nonlinear Dynamics in Psychiatry”, Arun Gupta, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2000-2001 - undergraduate thesis supervision “Collective Intelligence in Social Systems”, Tasleem Murji, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2002-2003 - undergraduate thesis supervision “Semantic Perception and Sex Differences Among Canadian University Students”, Kristine Espiritu, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2002-2003 - undergraduate thesis supervision “Semantic Space of Different Gender and Emotionality”, Samira Patel, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2002-2003 - undergraduate thesis supervision “Gender and Cultural differences of Semantic Space of Canadian Students”, Chandrima Bandyopadhyay, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2003-2004 – undergraduate thesis supervision “Quality of Life and use of antidepressants”, Melissa Devlan, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2003-2004 – undergraduate thesis supervision “Quality of Life and use of antidepressants”, Claudia Tomantsger, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2004-2005 – independent study course supervision “Collective Intelligence”, Marie Drosos, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2004-2005 – undergraduate thesis supervision “Study of network dynamics in models of social interactions”, Leah Hockney, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2005-2006 - undergraduate thesis supervision “Comparison of meaning attribution in Indian and Canadian cultures”. Vanita Marques, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2005-2006 - undergraduate thesis supervision, “Comparison of meaning attribution in Urdu and Canadian cultures”. Ambreen Tahir, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

2006-2007 - undergraduate thesis supervision, “Comparison of meaning attribution in Chinese and Canadian cultures”. Wen-Wen Iris, McMaster University, Department of Psychology.

Consultation for other graduate students.

Training students of psychology department for 2-hours credit in experimental psychology. More than 600 students participated at the study "Interconnection between emotionality and semantic space".

Organisaitonal Activity

Organizing the Modeling Journal Club in Psychology Department (1993-1996). Faculty and graduate students of the department participated in sessions of this club, discussing neural networks, artificial life and other modeling approaches.

Presentation of the Laboratory at international scientific meetings. For last seven years we gave a total more than 60 such presentations and invited lectures.

Organization of NATO Advanced Study Institute "Nonlinear Dynamics in Life and Social Sciences", Moscow, 2000

Organization of NATO Advanced Research Workshop "Formal Descriptions of Developing Systems", Honolulu, Hawaii, 2002

Conducting international scientific activity:
Dr.Sulis was a president of the international Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and Life Sciences during 1996-1998, and now is head of international relations in this society.
Dr.Trofimova has been president of the Russian Synergetic Society since 1995.