A message based processor comprises at least one processor cluster with a plurality of cluster elements each having a respective addressable storage space to store a state value indicative of its state, message handling utilities that are configured to receive input messages that designate specific ones of the plurality of cluster elements, and computation utilities that are configured to update a state value stored in the respective storage element of the designated cluster element. The addressable storage space of each cluster element further stores an operational mode indicator that is indicative of an operational mode of each cluster element. The operational mode is selected from at least one of transmission enabling operational mode and transmission disabling operational mode. The message handling utilities selectively transmit output messages for a cluster element to one or more cluster elements based on the operational mode.