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Evolution of learning capacities and learning levels

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  • Nakahashi, Wataru

Abstract

Humans strongly depend on individual and social learning, both of which are highly effective and accurate. I study the effects of environmental change on the evolution of the effectiveness and accuracy of individual and social learning (individual and social learning levels) and the number of pieces of information learned individually and socially (individual and social learning capacities) by analyzing a mathematical model. I show that individual learning capacity decreases and social learning capacity increases when the environment becomes more stable; both decrease when the environment becomes milder. I also show that individual learning capacity increases when individual learning level increases or social learning level decreases, while social learning capacity increases when individual or social learning level increases. The evolution of high learning levels can be triggered when the environment becomes severe, but a high social learning level can evolve only when a high individual learning level can simultaneously evolve with it.

Suggested Citation

  • Nakahashi, Wataru, 2010. "Evolution of learning capacities and learning levels," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 78(3), pages 211-224.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:thpobi:v:78:y:2010:i:3:p:211-224
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2010.08.001
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    1. Christoph P. E. Zollikofer & Marcia S. Ponce de León & Daniel E. Lieberman & Franck Guy & David Pilbeam & Andossa Likius & Hassane T. Mackaye & Patrick Vignaud & Michel Brunet, 2005. "Virtual cranial reconstruction of Sahelanthropus tchadensis," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7034), pages 755-759, April.
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    4. Ihara, Yasuo, 2008. "Spread of costly prestige-seeking behavior by social learning," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 148-157.
    5. Nakahashi, Wataru, 2008. "Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection by male choice," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 167-181.
    6. Aoki, Kenichi & Nakahashi, Wataru, 2008. "Evolution of learning in subdivided populations that occupy environmentally heterogeneous sites," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 356-368.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aoki, Kenichi & Feldman, Marcus W., 2014. "Evolution of learning strategies in temporally and spatially variable environments: A review of theory," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 3-19.
    2. Mullon, Charles & Lehmann, Laurent, 2017. "Invasion fitness for gene–culture co-evolution in family-structured populations and an application to cumulative culture under vertical transmission," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 33-46.
    3. Nakahashi, Wataru, 2013. "Evolution of improvement and cumulative culture," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 30-38.

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