The evolution of sensitive periods in a model of incremental development.

ABSTRACT: Sensitive periods, in which experience shapes phenotypic development to a larger extent than other periods, are widespread in nature. Despite a recent focus on neural-physiological explanation, few formal models have examined the evolutionary selection pressures that result in developmental mechanisms that produce sensitive periods. Here, we present such a model. We model development as a specialization process during which individuals incrementally adapt to local environmental conditions, while receiving a constant stream of cost-free, imperfect cues to the environmental state. We compute optimal developmental programmes across a range of ecological conditions and use these programmes to simulate developmental trajectories and obtain distributions of mature phenotypes. We highlight four m

SUBMITTER: Panchanathan K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4795025 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature