Information in the behavior stream

The dynamic of a series of responses for four pigeons is analyzed using a discrete fast Fourier transform (FFT) and a measure of behavior's predictability. FFTs of moment-to-moment response rates reliably exhibited a continuous distribution for three of the four birds, with most of the power falling in the low frequencies-red noise. An information analysis of the predictability of a series of inter-response times (IRTs) reveals that there is some gain in prediction by knowing past behavior; moreover, predictability increases the more past behaviors are taken into account. However, the further into the future these predictions are extended, the less reliable they become-entropy. These findings suggest that the dynamic controlling behavior at the level of the individual response is, to some extent, deterministic and probably chaotic.