Biological systems, ranging from neuronal circuits in multicellular organisms to biological circuits responsible for immune memory, display a remarkable array of information storage and retrieval capabilities. The olfactory system, for example, is involved in storing information about a vast range of smells and distinguishing them from mixed odors. The immune system is responsible for storing memory from a previous infection and using this to elicit responses during new infections. The foundational paradigms used to understand information storage and retrieval, however, usually assume some kind of equilibrium. In this talk, motivated by advances in the field of active matter, where non-equilibrium dynamics has been shown to activate new assembly and organization pathways, Professor Vaikuntanathan will describe how non-equilibrium activity can dramatically improve memory and information processing performance.
