A quick overview of membrane computing with some details about spiking neural P systems

Abstract

We briefly present the basic elements of membrane computing, a branch of natural computing inspired by the structure and functioning of living cells, then we give some details about spiking neural P systems, a class of membrane systems recently introduced, with motivations related to the way neurons communicate by means of spikes. In both cases, of general P systems and of spiking neural P systems, we introduce the fundamental concepts, give a few examples, then recall the types of results and of applications. A series of bibliographical references are provided.

Keywords

natural computing, membrane computing, P system, spiking neural P system, Turing computability, chomsky hierarchy, computational biology