Dependency in multisensory integration: a copula-based analysis

The notion of copula has attracted attention from the field of contextuality and probability. A copula is a function that joins a multivariate distribution to its one-dimensional marginal distributions. Thereby, it allows characterizing the multivariate dependency separately from the specific choice of margins. Here, we demonstrate the use of copulas by investigating the structure of dependency between processing stages in a stochastic model of multisensory integration, which describes the effect of stimulation by several sensory modalities on human reaction times. We derive explicit terms for the covariance and Kendall's tau between the processing stages and point out the specific role played by two stochastic order relations, the usual stochastic order and the likelihood ratio order, in determining the sign of dependency. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Contextuality and probability in quantum mechanics and beyond’.

A New Compound Gamma and Lindley Distribution with Application to Failure Data

In this paper, we propose a new lifetime distribution by compounding the gamma and Lindley distributions. Construction of it can be interpreted in the viewpoint of the reliability analysis and Bayesian inference. Moreover, the distribution has decreasing and unimodal hazard rate shapes. Several properties of the distribution are obtained, involving characteristics of the (reverse) hazard rate function, quantiles, moments, extreme order statistics and some stochastic order relations. Estimating the distribution parameters is discussed by some estimation methods and their performance is evaluated by a simulation study. Also, estimation of the stress-strength parameter is investigated. Usefulness of the distribution among other models is illustrated by fitting two failure data sets and using some goodness-of-fit measures.

Stochastic Order Relations Among Parallel Systems from Weibull Distributions

Let X λ1 , X λ2 , …, X λ n be independent Weibull random variables with X λ i ∼ W(α, λ i ), where λ i > 0 for i = 1, …, n. Let X n:n λ denote the lifetime of the parallel system formed from X λ1 , X λ2 , …, X λ n . We investigate the effect of the changes in the scale parameters (λ1, …, λ n ) on the magnitude of X n:n λ according to reverse hazard rate and likelihood ratio orderings.

Stochastic Order Relations Among Parallel Systems from Weibull Distributions

Let Xλ1, Xλ2, …, Xλn be independent Weibull random variables with Xλi ∼ W(α, λi), where λi > 0 for i = 1, …, n. Let Xn:nλ denote the lifetime of the parallel system formed from Xλ1, Xλ2, …, Xλn. We investigate the effect of the changes in the scale parameters (λ1, …, λn) on the magnitude of Xn:nλ according to reverse hazard rate and likelihood ratio orderings.

Stochastic Order Relations Among Parallel Systems from Weibull Distributions

Let X λ1 , X λ2 , …, X λ n be independent Weibull random variables with X λ i ∼ W(α, λ i ), where λ i > 0 for i = 1, …, n. Let X n:n λ denote the lifetime of the parallel system formed from X λ1 , X λ2 , …, X λ n . We investigate the effect of the changes in the scale parameters (λ1, …, λ n ) on the magnitude of X n:n λ according to reverse hazard rate and likelihood ratio orderings.

Generalized Increasing Convex and Directionally Convex Orders

In this paper, the componentwise increasing convex order, the upper orthant order, the upper orthant convex order, and the increasing directionally convex order for random vectors are generalized to hierarchical classes of integral stochastic order relations. The elements of the generating classes of functions possess nonnegative partial derivatives up to some given degrees. Some properties of these new stochastic order relations are studied. Particular attention is paid to the comparison of weighted sums of the respective components of ordered random vectors. By providing a unified derivation of standard multivariate stochastic orderings, the present paper shows how some well-known results derive from a common principle.

Generalized Increasing Convex and Directionally Convex Orders

In this paper, the componentwise increasing convex order, the upper orthant order, the upper orthant convex order, and the increasing directionally convex order for random vectors are generalized to hierarchical classes of integral stochastic order relations. The elements of the generating classes of functions possess nonnegative partial derivatives up to some given degrees. Some properties of these new stochastic order relations are studied. Particular attention is paid to the comparison of weighted sums of the respective components of ordered random vectors. By providing a unified derivation of standard multivariate stochastic orderings, the present paper shows how some well-known results derive from a common principle.