This book illustrates the role of randomness and noise in living organisms. Traditionally, the randomness and noise have been used in understanding signal processing in communications. This book is divided into two sections, the first of which introduces readers to the various types and sources of noise and the constructive role of noise in non-linear dynamics. It also analyses the importance of randomness and noise in a variety of science and engineering applications. In turn, the second section discusses in detail the functional role of noise in biological processes for example, in case of brain function at the level of ion channel, synaptic level and even at cognitive level. These are described in various chapters. One of the challenging issue finding the neuronal correlates of various meditative states is to understand how brain controls various types of noise so as to reach a state of synchronized oscillatory state of the brain corresponding to the state of Samadhi. This is described in details in one chapter called Noise, Coherence and meditation. The concept of noise and the role of randomness in living organism raise lot of controversy for last few decades. This is discussed in a separate chapter. Finally, the epistemic and ontic nature of randomness as discussed in physical science are investigated in the context of living organism.
Sarangam Majumdar is a mathematician. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mathematics from the University of Calcutta (2010) and the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (2012) respectively. His research interests include mathematical biology, system biology, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, scientific computing, nonlinear dynamics and chaos.
Prof. Sisir Roy is currently Senior Homi Bhabha Fellow under the Homi Bhabha Fellowship Council, Mumbai and a Visiting Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore. He previously served as a Professor and theoretical physicist at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata (1987-2014), and as the T.V. Raman Pai Chair Professor at the NIAS (2014-2018). He has also worked as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at many US and European universities. His main research interests include the foundations of quantum theory, theoretical astrophysics, brain function modeling and neuroscience, as well as higher-order cognitive activities. Further, he serves on the editorial boards of various international journals.
