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A generic mechanism for the ubiquitous phenomenon of 1/f noise is reviewed. This mechanism arises in random processes expressible as a product of several random variables. Under mild conditions this product form leads to the log-normal distribution which we show straightforwardly generates 1/f noise. Thus, 1/f noise is tied directly to a probability limit distribution. A second mechanism involving scaling is introduced to provide a natural crossover from log-normal to inverse power-law behavior and generates 1/f α noise instead of pure 1/f noise. Examples of these distributions and the transitions between them are drawn from such diverse areas as economics, scientific productivity, bronchial structure and cardiac activity.
West et al. (Thu,) studied this question.