# Modeling non-genetic information dynamics in cells using reservoir computing

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.07977 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.07977/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 1 of its 104 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 13 Dec 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Next Generation Reservoir Computing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.07688/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Evolutionary Optimization Reveals Structural Constraints on Reservoir Architecture for Spatiotemporal Chaos](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.22765/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Virtually all cells use energy and ion-specific membrane pumps to maintain large transmembrane gradients of Na^+, K^+, Cl^-, Mg++, and Ca++. Although they consume up to 1/3 of a cell's energy budget, the corresponding evolutionary benefit of transmembrane ion gradients remain unclear. Here, we propose that ion gradients enable a dynamic and versatile biological system that acquires, analyzes, and responds to environmental information. We hypothesize environmental signals are transmitted into the cell by ion fluxes along pre-existing gradients through gated ion-specific membrane channels. The consequent changes of cytoplasmic ion concentration can generate a local response and orchestrate global or regional responses through wire-like ion fluxes along pre-existing and self-assembling cytoskeleton to engage the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and nucleus. Here, we frame our hypothesis through a quasi-physical (Cell-Reservoir) model that treats intra-cellular ion-based information dynamics as a sub-cellular process permitting spatiotemporally resolved cellular response that is also capable of learning complex nonlinear dynamical cellular behavior. We demonstrate the proposed ion dynamics permits rapid dissemination of response to information extrinsic perturbations that is consistent with experimental observations.