Self-organization of laterally asymmetrical movements as a consequence of space–time optimization

Abstract

Laterally asymmetrical movements are ubiquitous among organisms. A bilaterally symmetrical organism cannot maneuver through a two- or three-dimensional space unless and until one side of its body leads, because the forces that cause the movements of the body are generated within the body. One question follows: are there any costs or benefits of laterally asymmetrical movements? We test whether directionally consistent laterally asymmetrical movements at different levels of organization of movements (at the individual, and not the population level) can work synergistically. We show—by means of a hypothetical system resembling a humanoid robot—that a laterally asymmetrical movement at a lower level of organization of movements can stimulate laterally asymmetrical movements that are directionally consistent at consecutive higher levels. We show—by comparing two hypothetical systems, incorporating laterally symmetrical and asymmetrical movements, respectively—that the asymmetrical system outperforms the symmetrical system by optimizing space and time and that this space–time advantage increases with the increasing complexity of the task. Together, these results suggest that laterally asymmetrical movements can self-organize as a consequence of space–time optimization.