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URL: http://journal-ci.csse.monash.edu.au/ci/...ommun-consensus.html

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Source: http://www.complexity.org.au/vol09/wagner01/

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Abstract

How does a group of individuals who lack a shared communication system evolve to achieve a consensus, so that every member of the group uses each signal in a manner consistent with others in the group? There are many factors that affect the difficulty of this task, including the number of signals available, the number of meanings or situations to convey, the population size, and whether or not any learning occurs. Each of these factors is explored in simulations which use a genetic algorithm that selects for agents who communicate meanings effectively with other agents. The difficulty of gaining consensus among a population of signalers increases as the number of meanings (and signals) increases, but decreases if more signals than meanings are allowed. Surprisingly, difficulty decreases as population size increases. An analysis is made of the exponentially increasing difficulty of achieving consensus as the number of meanings and signals grows. The implications for the evolution of communication are discussed.

@article{wagner02complexity,
  author={K. Wagner and J. Reggia},
  title={Evolving consensus among a population of communicators},
  journal={Complexity International},
  year={2002},
  volume={9},
  url={http://groups.lis.illinois.edu/amag/langev/paper/wagner02complexity.html}
}