1. in the social psychology of groups, the paths that are usually available for the transmission of information from one person to one or more other people in the group or organization. For example, in a highly centralized communication structure, all information passes through the individual at the center of the network, who then routes it to other members of the organization.

2. the sensory means by which information is conveyed in face-to-face communication between people, comprising speech (source: vocal track; destination: ear), kinesics (body movement; eye), odor (chemical processes; nose), touch (body surface; skin), observation (body surface; eye), and proxemics (body placement; eye).