| name | sbs-self-organization-complex-systems |
| description | Surviving by Serving (SBS) principle for self-organization in complex adaptive systems. Components persist when outputs are utilized; non-utilization triggers adaptation. Emergence of functional networks without centralized control. |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| arxiv_id | 2606.26733 |
| authors | ["Metzner, Claus","Ghebleh, Ali","Schilling, Achim","Maier, Andreas","Kinfe, Thomas","Krauss, Patrick"] |
| published | 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z |
| tags | ["self-organization","complex-systems","adaptive-systems","multi-agent","emergence","functional-networks"] |
| activation_keywords | ["Surviving by Serving","SBS","self-organization","functional emergence","complex adaptive systems","core-periphery"] |
Surviving by Serving: Functional Relevance Drives Self-Organization
ArXiv: 2606.26733 | Published: 2026-06-25
Core Principle
Surviving by Serving (SBS): Components persist as long as their outputs are utilized by other components; prolonged non-utilization promotes adaptation and exploration.
This provides a substrate-independent mechanism for self-organization without:
- Centralized control
- Global objectives
- External selection pressures
Key Findings
- Spontaneous functional networks: Self-organization into interaction networks with only local feedback
- Stable transformation chains: Emergence of stable processing pathways
- Core-periphery organization: Structural differentiation into functional core and exploratory periphery
- Novel state generation: Creation of states enabling previously unreachable targets
- Pre-adaptive search phase: Self-sustaining networks arise without selection, creating conditions for later solutions
Multi-Agent Model
Agents:
- Transform shared resources
- Receive local feedback when outputs utilized
- Persist while utilized → stability
- Non-utilized → exploration/adaptation
Emergence:
- Functional interaction networks
- Transformation chains
- Core-periphery structure
- Novel state generation
Mechanistic Framework
Utilization Feedback
- Local signal when output consumed by downstream agent
- Positive feedback → stability
- No feedback → adaptation pressure
Resource Flow Dynamics
- Shared resource pool
- Agent-specific transformations
- Network-level flow patterns
Stability-Exploration Trade-off
- Utilized agents → maintain function
- Non-utilized agents → explore alternatives
Applications
- Neural network self-organization
- Biological system development
- Social network formation
- Economic system emergence
- Technical infrastructure evolution
Neuroscience Implications
- Brain development: Neural circuits organize by functional utilization
- Synaptic stability: Utilized connections persist; unused adapt
