A5000118078- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Language and cultural evolution
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Cultural Differences and Values
- Evolution and Science Education
- Philosophy and History of Science
- Plant and animal studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence
- Marine and fisheries research
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment
University of St Andrews
2016-2025
St. Andrews University
2019-2024
Lallemand (France)
2023-2024
Marymount University
2020
Andrews University
2006-2019
Princeton University
2006-2018
Google (United Kingdom)
2017
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
2013
Max Planck Society
2013
Johns Hopkins University
2013
Despite considerable current interest in the evolution of intelligence, intuitively appealing notion that brain volume and “intelligence” are linked remains untested. Here, we use ecologically relevant measures cognitive ability, reported incidence behavioral innovation, social learning, tool use, to show size capacity indeed correlated. A comparative analysis 533 instances 445 observations 607 episodes established frequencies positively correlated with species' relative absolute “executive”...
We propose a conceptual model that maps the causal pathways relating biological evolution to cultural change. It builds on conventional evolutionary theory by placing emphasis capacity of organisms modify sources natural selection in their environment (niche construction) and broadening dynamic incorporate ontogenetic processes. In this model, phenotypes have much more active role than generally conceived. This sheds light hominid evolution, culture, altruism cooperation. Culture amplifies...
It Pays to Be a Copy Cat Does it pay copy what others do? Rendell et al. (p. 208 ) elected Robert Axelrod's 1979 tournament in which strategies for playing the iterated prisoner's dilemma game were pitted against each other until an overall winner emerged—the tit-for-tat strategy. In 2008 tournament, 100 social learning designed cope with changing environment competed other; winning strategy involved sampling behaviors of players periodically, rather than exploring alone.
The last two decades have seen a virtual explosion in empirical research on the role of social interactions development animals' behavioral repertoires, and similar increase attention to formal models learning. Here we first review recent evidence influences food choice, tool use, patterns movement, predator avoidance, mate courtship, then consider when animals choose copy behavior, which other behavior they copy, together with tests predictions from those models.
Fifty years ago, Ernst Mayr published a hugely influential paper on the nature of causation in biology, which he distinguished between proximate and ultimate causes. equated with immediate factors (for example, physiology) evolutionary explanations natural selection). He argued that causes addressed different questions were not alternatives. Mayr’s account remains widely accepted today, both positive negative ramifications. Several current debates biology over evolution development, niche...
Organisms regularly modify local resource distributions, influencing both their ecosystems and the evolution of traits whose fitness depends on such alterable sources natural selection in environments. We call these processes niche construction. explore evolutionary consequences construction using a two-locus population genetic model, which extends earlier analyses by allowing distributions to be influenced independent renewal depletion. The analysis confirms that can potent agent generating...
PREFACE 1. Sense and nonsense 2. A history of evolution human behaviours 3. Human sociobiology 4. behavioural ecology 5. Evolutionary psychology 6. Memetics 7. Gene-culture co-evolution 8. Comparing integrating approaches FURTHER READING REFERENCES INDEX
Niche construction refers to the modification of selective environments by organisms. Theoretical and empirical studies niche are increasing in importance as foci evolutionary ecology. This special edition presents theoretical research that illustrates significance field. Here we set scene for following papers (1) discussing history research, (2) providing clear definitions distinguish from related concepts such ecosystem engineering extended phenotype, (3) a brief summary findings (4)...
Hominin reliance on Oldowan stone tools—which appear from 2.5 mya and are believed to have been socially transmitted—has hypothesized led the evolution of teaching language. Here we present an experiment investigating efficacy transmission tool-making skills along chains adult human participants (N=184) using five different mechanisms. Across six measures, improves with teaching, particularly language, but not imitation or emulation. Our results support hypothesis that hominin generated...
Acquire and Share Few would argue with the stance that human social cognition supports an unequaled capacity to acquire knowledge share it others. Dean et al. (p. 1114 ; see Perspective by Kurzban Barrett ) compared extent which these cognitive psychological processes can be elicited in children, capuchins, chimpanzees through use of a three-level puzzlebox task. Incentivized improving rewards, 3- 4-year-old children progressed from first third level imitating observed actions, taught other...
There are consistent individual differences in human intelligence, attributable to a single 'general intelligence' factor, g. The evolutionary basis of g and its links social learning culture remain controversial. Conflicting hypotheses regard primate cognition as divided into specialized, independently evolving modules versus general process. To assess how processes underlying relate one another other cognitive capacities, we compiled ecologically relevant measures from multiple domains,...