Analysis of behavioral patterns based on the ideas of Kolmogorov complexity: a search for a common methodological approach in ethology and psychology

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Abstract

Studying of behavioural stereotypes is within the fields of ethology and psychology. As a tool for quantitative description of stereotypes we suggest the newly elaborated method based on ideas of Kolmogorov complexity (Ryabko, Reznikova, Druzyaka, Panteleeva, 2013). For the analysis of ethograms as a biological «texts», we use the method of data compression. We compared hunting stereotypes in Norway rats towards agile and slow-moving prey. In the first case the stereotypes are much longer and they contain less key elements and more secondary and «noise» elements. This demonstrate the new method as relevant for the analysis of biological «texts», for searching regularities in stereotypic behaviour and for development of joint methods in ethology and psychology.

General Information

Keywords: ethology, psychology, behavior, hunting behavior, rats, information theory, Kolmogorov complexity, data compression

Journal rubric: Methodology of Psychological Research

Article type: scientific article

For citation: Reznikova J.I., Panteleeva S.N., Levenets Y.V. Analysis of behavioral patterns based on the ideas of Kolmogorov complexity: a search for a common methodological approach in ethology and psychology. Eksperimental'naâ psihologiâ = Experimental Psychology (Russia), 2014. Vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 112–125. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Janna I. Reznikova, Doctor of Biology, Professor, Senior Research Associate, Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, SB RAS, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia, e-mail: zhanna@reznikova.net

Sofia N. Panteleeva, PhD in Biology, Senior Research Associate, Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, SB RAS, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia, e-mail: psofia@mail.ru

Yan V. Levenets, Postgraduate Student, Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia, e-mail: jan.levenets@gmail.com

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