1. A meta-stable switching apparatus, comprising: a neural node comprising at least one synaptic element, said at least one synaptic element having a state input and said neural node having a state output, a plurality of meta-stable switches comprising said at least one synaptic element; and a plasticity mechanism associated with said at least one synaptic element and neural node, wherein said plasticity mechanism acts on said at least one synaptic element so that said neural node reinforces at least one synaptic state of said at least one synaptic element in such a manner as to facilitate a transfer of said state input to said state output of said neural node.