Information loss links population turnover to cultural evolution

Abstract

AbstractCulture’s substrate is the social network, linking social factors to cultural evolution in a variety of ways. Population size and structure have been well studied, yet little is known about variation in population turnover—the cyclic replacement of individuals in fission-fusion social systems. Using a generative rein-forcement learning model, we explore how turnover affects the selective retention of more adaptive traits. We simulate competition between a high and low reward behavior, while varying turnover magnitude and tempo. We find optimal turnover regimes that promote selection for higher reward behaviors relative to static populations. Turnover’s effect depends on network size, density, behavioral transmissibility, and characteristics of the learners. We show that information loss, combined with the enhanced ability of naive agents to sample behaviors, are key mechanisms that link turnover to cultural outcomes. We provide theoretical support and predictions for the important role of naive learners for cultural evolution, identified by previous experimental studies.