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Noise Matters: The Evolution of Communication Hardcover – Illustrated, June 9, 2015

by R. Haven Wiley (Author)

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Noise, as we usually think of it, is background sound that interferes with our ability to hear more interesting sounds. In general terms, though, it is anything that interferes with the reception of signals of any sort. It includes extraneous energy in the environment, degradation of signals in transit, and spontaneous random activity in receivers and signalers. Whatever the cause, the consequence of noise is error by receivers, and these errors are the key to understanding how noise shapes the evolution of communication.

Noise Matters breaks new ground in the scientific understanding of how communication evolves in the presence of noise. Combining insights of signal detection theory with evidence from decades of his own original research, Haven Wiley explains the profound effects of noise on the evolution of communication. The coevolution of signalers and receivers does not result in ideal, noise-free communication, Wiley finds. Instead, signalers and receivers evolve to a joint equilibrium in which communication is effective but never error-free. Noise is inescapable in the evolution of communication.

Wiley’s comprehensive approach considers communication on many different levels of biological organization, from cells to individual organisms, including humans. Social interactions, such as honesty, mate choice, and cooperation, are reassessed in the light of noisy communication. The final sections demonstrate that noise even affects how we think about human language, science, subjectivity, and freedom. Noise Matters thus contributes to understanding the behavior of animals, including ourselves.

Print length

520 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Harvard University Press
Publication date

June 9, 2015
Dimensions

6.4 x 1.6 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0674744128
ISBN-13

978-0674744127
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Haven Wiley gives a superb overview of how communication has evolved.”―Hansjoerg Kunc, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast

“Extremely readable and thought-provoking...The result of all this erudition and stimulation is very likely the best book of science published by a mainstream press in 2015, something that will make readers think about every sound they hear and why they hear those sounds and why they prefer some of those sounds to others. It’s an invigorating inquiry.”―Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly

About the Author

R. Haven Wiley is Professor of Biology and Ecology, Emeritus, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Product details

Publisher : Harvard University Press; Illustrated edition (June 9, 2015)
Language : English
Hardcover : 520 pages
ISBN-10 : 0674744128
ISBN-13 : 978-0674744127
Item Weight : 2 pounds
Dimensions : 6.4 x 1.6 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,866,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,399 in Neuroscience (Books)
- #13,516 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)
- #14,626 in Evolution (Books)

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dsystemj

Un bon livre

Reviewed in France on July 21, 2015

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Lorsqu'il s'agit de démontrer que la communication n'est rien sans bruit, déroutant pour qui s'intéresse à l'acoustique en général, rafraîchissant à qui sait suivre cette démonstration pour en devenir convaincante.

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