Social learning solves the problem of narrow-peaked search landscapes: experimental evidence in humans.

ABSTRACT: The extensive use of social learning is considered a major reason for the ecological success of humans. Theoretical considerations, models and experiments have explored the evolutionary basis of social learning, showing the conditions under which learning from others is more adaptive than individual learning. Here we present an extension of a previous experimental set-up, in which individuals go on simulated 'hunts' and their success depends on the features of a 'virtual arrowhead' they design. Individuals can modify their arrowhead either by individual trial and error or by copying others. We study how, in a multimodal adaptive landscape, the smoothness of the peaks influences learning. We compare narrow peaks, in which solutions close to optima do not provide useful feedback to individua

SUBMITTER: Acerbi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5043306 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature