FastMI: A fast and consistent copula-based nonparametric estimator of mutual information

Abstract

As a fundamental concept in information theory, mutual information (MI) has been commonly applied to quantify association between random vectors. Most existing nonparametric estimators of MI have unstable statistical performance since they involve parameter tuning. We develop a consistent and powerful estimator, called fastMI, that does not incur any parameter tuning. Based on a copula formulation, fastMI estimates MI by leveraging Fast Fourier transform-based estimation of the underlying density. Extensive simulation studies reveal that fastMI outperforms state-of-the-art estimators with improved estimation accuracy and reduced run time for large data sets. fastMI provides a powerful test for independence that exhibits satisfactory type I error control. Anticipating that it will be a powerful tool in estimating mutual information in a broad range of data, we develop an R package fastMI for broader dissemination.