CPCSciCenter for Philosophical
and Cognitive SciencesContact

Research area

Complex Systems, Active Matter & Adaptive Dynamics

Mathematical and computational studies of collective dynamics, memory, nonreciprocity, pattern formation and adaptive many-body systems.

Scope

What this theme investigates

This theme asks how simple local interactions produce organised behaviour across active matter, biological aggregation and coordinated agents. We study systems in which geometry, perception, memory and internal regulation are part of the dynamics rather than fixed background assumptions.

A central concern is adaptation: interacting units change while they interact. Non-Markovian feedback, emergent nonreciprocity and topological structure provide a common language for explaining switching, recovery, information retention and robust collective coordination.

Current directions

01

Adaptive active matter

Models in which evolving perceptual or regulatory states determine alignment, clustering, switching and recovery.

02

Memory and non-Markovian dynamics

Multi-timescale systems whose slow internal variables generate history-dependent collective behaviour.

03

Emergent nonreciprocity

Geometric and field-theoretic mechanisms for asymmetric macroscopic response.

04

Adaptive collective systems

Translation of memory, feedback and nonreciprocity into robust coordination in biological and robotic collectives.

Research record

Publications in this area

Peer-reviewed work, chapters and current manuscripts connected with this research theme.

Complete publication record →