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Nodes and reservoirs

A node is the local neural unit model. A reservoir is a runtime population of nodes with wiring and dynamic state. The reservoir receives receptor values and returns activity for a body readout.

Shared interface

A reservoir implements step!, effectors, reset!, node and port widths, and any declared replay or inspection methods. A registered NodeSpec owns:

  • its builder and parameters;
  • named parameter sets for sweeps or evolution;
  • capabilities required by ablations;
  • equations, default analyses, stability, and tags.

Node count belongs to CompositionSpec. Runtime membrane values, spikes, learned weights, and random-number positions do not belong to a parameter genome.

Canonical Falandays node

Use node=:falandays for the canonical online-plastic node. It is based on Falandays and colleagues, “A potential mechanism for Gibsonian resonance”.

Each unit integrates sensory and recurrent input, emits a spike above its local target, and adapts its target and active incoming weights during behaviour. The implementation has no task-loss backpropagation or fitted readout.

Task-specific presets resolve the numerical settings:

BrainlessLab.composition_spec(DEFAULT_REGISTRY, :falandays_tracking)
BrainlessLab.composition_spec(DEFAULT_REGISTRY, :falandays_pong)

The canonical implementation is validated on declared reference trajectories. This covers the tested construction and update path. It does not establish behavioural equivalence, biological validity, or performance on every task.

Other node families

Other registered nodes may use fixed weights, different plasticity, noise, drives, delays, or structural assumptions. Query nodes(DEFAULT_REGISTRY) and inspect each NodeSpec. Software registration does not qualify a node for a benchmark.

Add a new reservoir subtype when state, stepping, plasticity, or readout changes materially. Use a parameter, preset, wrapper, or ablation when the interface stays the same.

Source: src/core/Registry.jl, src/nodes/Falandays.jl, test/oracle/authors_falandays.jl.