Physarum-Mediated Biofeedback Rehabilitation: A Bio-Hybrid Framework for Ibogaine-Assisted Neural Recovery

A system is described that maps human brain activity (EEG frequency, amplitude, and phase) to the behavior of a living slime mold (Physarum polycephalum) to create a biohybrid interface for addiction recovery. The slime mold's network growth and retraction are controlled by nutrient gradients that correspond to neural signals: higher activation in addiction-related brain regions reduces food at corresponding Physarum nodes, causing network retraction. The system is presented as a structural isomorphism—not a metaphor—between neural plasticity, Physarum tube reinforcement, and ibogaine's neurorestorative mechanisms (NMDA receptor blockade, BDNF/GDNF upregulation). The document is a defensive publication establishing prior art under patent treaties, released under CC-BY 4.0.

Study at a glance

Abstract

DEFENSIVE PUBLICATION NOTICE This document is published as a defensive publication to establishprior art and prevent any party from obtaining patent exclusivityover the concepts, methods, architectures, and applicationsdescribed herein. By timestamping this work on Zenodo (aCERN-operated open-access repository), the authors establish animmutable priority date. This work is released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0International (CC-BY 4.0). Any person, institution, or entity mayuse, build upon, or commercialize derivatives of these ideas,provided attribution is given. No party may obtain exclusive patentrights over the core concepts described in this document, as thispublication constitutes prior art under: - Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)- US Patent Act (35 U.S.C. §102)- European Patent Convention (Art. 54)- Australian Patents Act 1990 (s7) Intent: These ideas belong to humanity. Addiction does notdiscriminate by income bracket, and neither should the toolsthat heal it. THE TRANSLATION INTERFACE — THREE MAPPING DOMAINS FREQUENCY-DOMAIN MAPPING:EEG frequency bands (theta and gamma, associated with memoryconsolidation and cognitive binding) are mapped to Physarumoscillation frequency targets via temperature modulation(Physarum oscillation frequency is temperature-dependent).Coherent neural activity in recovery-associated regions triggersnutrient delivery to corresponding Physarum nodes. AMPLITUDE-DOMAIN MAPPING:Neural signal amplitude in addiction circuits (nucleus accumbens,ventral tegmental area proxy regions) is inversely mapped tonutrient concentration at "addiction" nodes. Higher addictioncircuit activation = less food at the corresponding Physarumnode = network retraction from that region. PHASE-DOMAIN MAPPING:Inter-regional phase synchronization (a marker of functionalconnectivity) is mapped to spatial nutrient gradient patterns,encouraging Physarum to build connections between nodes whosecorresponding brain regions are becoming more functionallyconnected. SYSTEM DIAGRAM PATIENT PHYSARUM CHAMBER FEEDBACK DISPLAY┌─────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐│ EEG Array │──signal──▶│ Nutrient Grid │──image─▶│ Time-lapse ││ Wearable │ │ ┌──┐ ┌──┐ │ │ Topology ││ Biosensors │──freq───▶ │ │PP│──│PP│ │──data──▶│ Analysis ││ HRV/GSR │ │ └──┘ └──┘ │ │ Recovery % │└─────────────┘ │ Living Network │ └──────┬───────┘ ▲ └──────────────────┘ │ │ │ └──────────────── motivational loop ────────────────────┘ STRUCTURAL ISOMORPHISM: THE ROSETTA STONE MAPPINGSix functional isomorphisms (not metaphorical analogies) NEURAL PROCESS | PHYSARUM PROCESS | IBOGAINE MECHANISM----------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------Synaptic plasticity | Tube reinforcement via flow | NMDA receptor blockade(Hebbian learning) | volume | opens plasticity window | |Use-it-or-lose-it | Vein retraction from | Weakening of addictionsynaptic pruning | nutrient-free dead-ends | circuit connectivity | |BDNF/GDNF neurotrophic | Nutrient-directed pseudopod | Massive GDNF and BDNFgrowth | expansion | upregulation | |Neural oscillations | Protoplasmic shuttle | Disruption of pathological(brain waves) | streaming (1-2 min periods) | oscillation patterns | |Long-term potentiation | Path-dependent conductivity | Consolidation of new | increase | pathway formation | |Resting-state network | Spontaneous oscillation | Post-reset integrationactivity | patterns | window (24-72 hrs) REFERENCES [1] Alim, K. et al. 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