Blind alleys and fruitful pathways in the comparative study of cultural cognition

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 43, P. 211 - 238

Published: Oct. 21, 2022

A mere few decades ago, culture was thought a unique human attribute. Evidence to the contrary accumulated through latter part of twentieth century and has exploded in present one, demonstrating transmission traditions social learning across all principal vertebrate taxa even invertebrates, notably insects. The scope is nevertheless highly distinctive. What makes our cultural capacities their cognitive underpinnings so different? In this article I argue that behavioural scientists' endeavours answer question, fruitful research pathways ensuing discoveries have come exist alongside popular, yet light current empirical evidence, questionable scenarios scientific blind alleys. particularly re-evaluate theories rely on centrality supposed uniquely capacity for imitative copying explaining distinctive massive cumulative evolution (CCE) species. most extreme versions perspective suffer logical incoherence severe limits testability. By contrast field generated range rigorous observational experimental methodologies revealed both long-term fidelity limited forms CCE non-human Attention now turns directly investigating scope, underlying cognition versus CCE, with broader approach factors additional transmission, role invention, innovation evolved motivational biases species studied.

Language: Английский

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Bumblebees socially learn behaviour too complex to innovate alone

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 627(8004), P. 572 - 578

Published: March 6, 2024

Abstract Culture refers to behaviours that are socially learned and persist within a population over time. Increasing evidence suggests animal culture can, like human culture, be cumulative: characterized by sequential innovations build on previous ones 1 . However, cumulative involves so complex they lie beyond the capacity of any individual independently discover during their lifetime 1–3 To our knowledge, no study has far demonstrated this phenomenon in an invertebrate. Here we show bumblebees can learn from trained demonstrator bees open novel two-step puzzle box obtain food rewards, even though fail do independently. Experimenters were unable train perform unrewarded first step without providing temporary reward linked action, which was removed later stages training. third naive observer these demonstrators, ever being rewarded after step. This social learning might permit acquisition too ‘re-innovate’ through learning. Furthermore, failed despite extended exposure for up 24 days. finding challenges common opinion field: cannot innovated trial error is unique humans.

Language: Английский

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Early knapping techniques do not necessitate cultural transmission

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(27)

Published: July 6, 2022

Early stone tool production, or knapping, techniques are claimed to be the earliest evidence for cultural transmission in human lineage. Previous experimental studies have trained participants knap conditions involving opportunities transmission. Subsequent knapping was then interpreted as a necessity of provided these techniques. However, valid claim requires showing that individual learning alone cannot lead early Here, we tested (N = 28) isolation by providing them with relevant raw materials and puzzle task motivation. Twenty-five were technique naïve according posttest questionnaires, yet they individually learned techniques, therewith producing using core flake tools. thus do not necessitate know-how could likewise been derived among premodern hominins.

Language: Английский

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Cumulative Culture, Archaeology, and the Zone of Latent Solutions

Current Anthropology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 65(1), P. 23 - 48

Published: Jan. 19, 2024

This paper begins with an analysis of Tennie's account hominin culture: the claims that cumulative culture depends on a distinctive form social learning; learning is absent in great apes; its archaeological signature lineage late; and, finally, forms available to apes and probably earlier hominins only accelerated their pathways skills they could acquire for themselves. synthesis bold, influential, hence appropriate target critical reflection. But further aim develop alternative view relation our lineage. It accepts copying one aspect culture. argues as well integrating information from variety nonsocial sources through array sensory modalities. not mostly matter models but socially guided re-creation model's skill. On this culture, first, plays less central role, second, cultures become just incremental improvement existing capacities.

Language: Английский

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Chimpanzees use social information to acquire a skill they fail to innovate

Nature Human Behaviour, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(5), P. 891 - 902

Published: March 6, 2024

Abstract Cumulative cultural evolution has been claimed to be a uniquely human phenomenon pivotal the biological success of our species. One plausible condition for cumulative emerge is individuals’ ability use social learning acquire know-how that they cannot easily innovate by themselves. It suggested chimpanzees may capable such learning, but this assertion remains largely untested. Here we show skill failed independently innovate. By teaching how solve sequential task (one chimpanzee in each two tested groups, n = 66) and using network-based diffusion analysis, found 14 naive learned operate puzzle box during preceding three months exposure all necessary materials. In conjunction, present evidence hypothesis sufficient new, complex after initial innovation.

Language: Английский

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Processing of novel food reveals payoff and rank-biased social learning in a wild primate

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: May 18, 2021

Abstract Social learning—learning from others—is the basis for behavioural traditions. Different social learning strategies (SLS), where individuals biasedly learn behaviours based on their content or who demonstrates them, may increase an individual’s fitness and generate While SLS have been mostly studied in isolation, interaction interplay between individual is less understood. We performed a field-based open diffusion experiment wild primate. provided two groups of vervet monkeys with novel food, unshelled peanuts, documented how three different peanut opening techniques spread within groups. analysed data using hierarchical Bayesian dynamic models that explore integration multiple learning. (1) report evidence compared to strictly learning, (2) show vervets preferentially socially technique yields highest observed payoff (3) also bias attention toward higher rank. This shows preferences can arise when integrate information about efficiency behaviour alongside cues related rank demonstrator. When these converge same group, they result stable

Language: Английский

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Field experiments find no evidence that chimpanzee nut cracking can be independently innovated

Nature Human Behaviour, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6(4), P. 487 - 494

Published: Jan. 24, 2022

Language: Английский

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Biased cultural transmission of a social custom in chimpanzees

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(7)

Published: Feb. 15, 2023

Cultural transmission studies in animals have predominantly focused on identifying between-group variation tool-use techniques, while immaterial cultures remain understudied despite their potential for highlighting similarities between human and animal culture. Here, using long-term data from two chimpanzee communities, we tested whether one of chimpanzees' most enigmatic social customs-the grooming handclasp-is culturally transmitted by investigating the influence well-documented biases variational preferences. After differences style preferences show that older dominant individuals exert more over partners' handclasp styles. Mothers were equally likely to offspring's as nonkin, indicating styles are both vertically obliquely. Last, gradually converged group style, suggesting conformity guides Our findings lives influenced cultural hitherto thought be uniquely human.

Language: Английский

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In search of animal normativity: a framework for studying social norms in non‐human animals

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(3), P. 1058 - 1074

Published: Jan. 24, 2024

Social norms - rules governing which behaviours are deemed appropriate or inappropriate within a given community typically taken to be uniquely human. Recently, this position has been challenged by number of philosophers, cognitive scientists, and ethologists, who have suggested that social may also found in certain non-human animal communities. Such claims elicited considerable scepticism from norm cognition researchers, doubt any animals possess the psychological capacities necessary for normative cognition. However, there is little agreement among these researchers about what prerequisites are. This makes empirical study difficult, since it not clear we looking thus should count as behavioural evidence presence (or absence) animals. To break impasse, offer an approach moves beyond contested criteria norms. inspired culture research program, made similar shift away heavily definitions 'culture' become organised around cluster more empirically tractable concepts culture. Here, propose analogous set constructs built core notion regularity, define socially maintained pattern conformity community. We suggest methods studying potential regularities wild captive primates. discuss broader scientific philosophical implications program with respect questions human uniqueness, welfare conservation.

Language: Английский

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Experimental investigation of orangutans’ lithic percussive and sharp stone tool behaviours

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. e0263343 - e0263343

Published: Feb. 16, 2022

Early stone tools, and in particular sharp arguably represent one of the most important technological milestones human evolution. The production use tools significantly widened ecological niche our ancestors, allowing them to exploit novel food resources. However, despite their importance, it is still unclear how these early lithic technologies emerged which behaviours served as stepping-stones for development systematic lineage. One approach answer this question collect comparative data on tool making using abilities closest living relatives, great apes, reconstruct potential stone-related hominins. To end, we tested both individual social learning five orangutans make tools. Although did not initially, three individuals spontaneously engaged percussion, pieces were produced under later experimental conditions. Furthermore, when provided with a human-made stone, orangutan used cutting tool. Contrary previous experiments, demonstrations considerably improve orangutans. Our study first systematically investigate untrained, unenculturated showing that two proposed pre-requisites emergence technologies-lithic percussion recognition sharp-edged stones tools-are present species. We discuss implications ours ape experiments have understanding initial stages

Language: Английский

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