Metachronal Motion across Scales: Current Challenges and Future Directions

Metachronal motion is used across a wide range of organisms for a diverse set of functions. However, despite its ubiquity, analysis of this behavior has been difficult to generalize across systems. Here we provide an overview of known commonalities and differences between systems that use metachrony to generate fluid flow. We also discuss strategies for standardizing terminology and defining future investigative directions that are analogous to other established subfields of biomechanics. Finally, we outline key challenges that are common to many metachronal systems, opportunities that have arisen due to the advent of new technology (both experimental and computational), and next steps for community development and collaboration across the nascent network of metachronal researchers.

Automated summary

Metachronal motion is widely used across various organisms for different functions, but analyzing this behavior has been challenging to generalize. It is important to identify commonalities and differences, standardize terminology, and define future research directions. Key challenges need to be addressed, opportunities from new technologies should be utilized, and community development and collaboration among metachronal researchers should be promoted.