Evolution of bilateral symmetry in agents controlled by spiking neural networks

Abstract

We present in this paper three novel developmental models allowing information to be encoded in space and time, using spiking neurons placed on a 2D substrate. In two of these models, we introduce neural development that can use bilateral symmetry. We show that these models can create neural controllers for agents evolved to perform chemotaxis. Neural bilateral symmetry can be evolved and be beneficial for an agent. This work is the first, as far as we know, to present developmental models where spiking neurons are generated in space and where bilateral symmetry can be evolved and proved to be beneficial in this context.