A current hot topic in the field of AMO physics involves using light-matter interactions to transmit and store quantum information (for application to quantum computing, quantum communication, etc). Furthermore, because one might want to read and write information from individual quantum bits (e.g. a single photon), a system in which atoms and photons strongly interact is necessary. With this motivation in mind, I will describe a physical effect known as recoil-induced resonance (RIR) that can be studied in a sample of cold atoms. In particular, I will discuss my recent theoretical and experimental investigation of RIRs in the transient regime, and discuss possible directions for implementations of quantum information storage schemes.