Minimization of information processing in communication: a model

Abstract

Since there is a limited capacity to process inputs, it is interesting to assume a trend to minimize the information processing associated with communication in order to redirect resources to other events. To test this hypothesis, we considered the organisms as oscillators, where communication was defined as their coupling. Entropy generation (σ) was the minimization criterion and computations were performed comparing oscillators with identical and non-identical parameters. The results obtained indicate that identical oscillators minimize σ. We are lead to the conclusion that the best strategy, in evolutionary terms, to minimize the entropy generation in a long-lasting exchange of signals is to keep a high intraspecific similarity among the animals that communicate in a given environment.