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Evolution of cultural communication systems: the coevolution of cultural signals and genes encoding learning preferences
Author(s) -
Lachlan R. F.,
Feldman M. W.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00624.x
Subject(s) - biology , trait , coevolution , selection (genetic algorithm) , conformity , gene , cultural transmission in animals , sociocultural evolution , population , range (aeronautics) , evolutionary biology , genetics , social psychology , psychology , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , anthropology , demography , materials science , composite material , programming language
In several communication systems that rely on social learning, such as bird song, and possibly human language, the range of signals that can be learned is limited by perceptual biases – predispositions – that are presumably based on genes. In this paper, we examine the coevolution of such genes with the culturally transmitted communication traits themselves, using deterministic population genetic models. We argue that examining how restrictive genetic predispositions are is a useful way of examining the evolutionary origin and maintenance of learning. Under neutral cultural evolution, where no cultural trait has any inherent advantage over another, there is selection in favour of less restrictive genes (genes that allow a wider range of signals to recognized). In contrast, cultural conformity (where the most common cultural trait is favoured) leads to selection in favour of more restrictive genes.