
Information Processing in Dynamical Systems
Third Annual RICH Lecture
University of Amsterdam
13 September 2022
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2:30 pm
Location
Hybrid:
Online (NEW LINK):
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https://radbouduniversity.zoom.us/j/83105296982?pwd=L1hnR1o5ZlRPN251eDVHU0JaZ0xDZz09
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In-person at Huize Heyendael (Map)
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Abstract
A network of dynamical units can generate a complex systemic behavior. Examples include human cognition emerging from a network of neural cells, ecosystems from food webs, and cellular regulatory processes from protein-protein interactions.
A first important question is: which agents are the ‘drivers’ of the systemic behavior? A second question is: can we detect emergent phenomena, such as susceptibility to certain perturbations while being resilient to other perturbations? We attempt to address these questions in a domain-free way using information theory.
As an example, surprising findings is that the most influential nodes are not the most well-connected or central nodes. We also find that strategic multi-interventions may be far more effective than local interventions, and that achieving tipping points may even require a sequence of interventions. These insights have important consequences for many applications. I will present work on addressing the above questions through analytical results, computational modeling, and data analysis.