Information-Theoretic Analysis of Randomization and Spontaneous Activity

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the information-theoretic measure of redundancy for a sequence randomized by subjects and for a sequence spontaneously produced by subjects. It was hypothesized on the basis of previous findings with self-paced tasks that redundancy in the sequence under conditions of spontaneous activity would be higher than under conditions of randomization. 28 subjects were instructed to randomize three alternative push-button responses or to produce a spontaneous sequence of such responses. Both tasks were paced by a metronome and performed twice. As expected, redundancy was significantly higher in the condition of spontaneous activity. Redundancy was also higher in the second task and seemed to be higher in paced tasks as compared with previously published data obtained with the use of self-paced tasks. The latter effect was interpreted as a function of a superimposed activity of synchronization of responses with a time marker. Higher redundancy of spontaneously produced sequences was said to be firmly established and independent of pacing or nonpacing of responses.