From Democratic Consensus to Cannibalistic Hordes - The Principles of Collective Animal Behavior

Explore the fascinating world of collective animal behavior in this illuminating lecture. Delve into the principles governing coordinated group dynamics across various species, from army ants to bird flocks. Discover how individual actions contribute to complex group behaviors and investigate the concept of a "collective mind" in animal societies. Examine case studies ranging from locust swarms to fish schools, and learn about consensus decision-making processes in both animals and humans. Gain insights into the pervasiveness of coordinated collective behavior in nature and its underlying mechanisms. Uncover the connections between seemingly disparate examples of group organization, from the cellular level of our brains to the macro scale of human society.