Новый метод оценки сложности поведенческих стереотипов животных с помощью теоретико-информационного подхода

Abstract

We suggest a method for evaluating the complexity of ani­mal behavioural patterns based on the notion of Kolmogorov complexity. We represent behavioural sequences as «texts» and compress them using a data compressor. Two examples of analysis of ethological texts are considered thus demonstrating that the proposed method is a useful tool for distinguishing between stereotyped and flexible behaviours which is important for behav­ioural and evolutionary studies.