Spatial search weighting information contained in cell velocity distribution

Abstract

Cell migration plays a significant role in physiological and pathological processes. Understanding the characteristics of cell movement is crucial for comprehending biological processes such as cell functionality, cell migration, and cell–cell interactions. One of the fundamental characteristics of cell movement is the specific distribution of cell speed, containing valuable information that still requires comprehensive understanding. This article investigates the distribution of mean velocities along cell trajectories, with a focus on optimizing the efficiency of cell food search in the context of the entire colony. We confirm that the specific velocity distribution in the experiments corresponds to an optimal search efficiency when spatial weighting is considered. The simulation results indicate that the distribution of average velocity does not align with the optimal search efficiency when employing average spatial weighting. However, when considering the distribution of central spatial weighting, the specific velocity distribution in the experiment is shown to correspond to the optimal search efficiency. Our simulations reveal that for any given distribution of average velocity, a specific central spatial weighting can be identified among the possible central spatial weighting that aligns with the optimal search strategy. Additionally, our work presents a method for determining the spatial weights embedded in the velocity distribution of cell movement. Our results have provided new avenues for further investigation of significant topics, such as relationship between cell behavior and environmental conditions throughout their evolutionary history, and how cells achieve collective cooperation through cell-cell communication.