\input zb-basic \input zb-ioport \iteman{io-port 06090779} \itemau{Lu, Kan} \itemti{From Shannon's information theory to cognitive information theory.} \itemso{J. Harbin Eng. Univ. 32, No. 8, 1063-1067 (2011).} \itemab Summary: Human cognition is a kind of information activity, so it must have relevant mathematical theories of its own. Based on the entropy theory of Shannon's information theory, the fundamental mathematical principle of cognition is discussed. It is pointed out that cognition is a series of decreases in entropy through which the object information and information of regularities are obtained from enormous input perception signals. As for the state of information, it can be partly determined by prediction and partly detected in real observation of the variations in appearance information. \itemrv{~} \itemcc{} \itemut{cognition; decrease in entropy; appearance information; object information; information of regularity} \itemli{doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-7043.2011.08.018} \end