A　novel　PSO　algorithm　called　InformPSO　is　introduced　in　this　paper.　The　premature　convergence　problem　is　a　deficiency　of　PSOs.　First,　we　analyze　the　causes　of　premature　convergence　for　conventional　PSO.　Second,　the　principles　of　information　diffusion　and　clonal　selection　are　incorporated　into　the　proposed　PSO　algorithm　to　achieve　a　better　diversity　and　break　away　from　local　optima.　Finally,　when　compared　with　several　other　PSO　variants,　it　yields　better　performance　on　optimization　of　unimodal　and　multimodal　benchmark　functions.　©　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg　2006.