Analyses of non-linear systems and their application to biology: a review

In this review article, Wiener's analyses of non-linear systems and other topics on non-linear noise and non-stationary signals are introduced. Firstly, application and limitation of linear aspects on a biological system and a background of introduction of the Wiener's theory to non-linear analysis are briefly mentioned. The practical applications, however, were not so successful for several reasons. We shall see how these problems are solved under collaboration between biologists and engineers who have a knowledge of the subject and utilizing computational facility. Several aspects of the methodology involving non-linear systems, non-linear noise and non-stationary signals are also reviewed.