Cultural Evolution in Structured Populations - Evolutionary Models Applied to Human Behaviors and Bird Songs

Explore a 40-minute lecture on cultural evolution in structured populations, focusing on evolutionary models applied to human behaviors and bird songs. Delve into how Nicole Creanza from Vanderbilt University challenges foundational models of social learning and cultural evolution by considering complex contact networks and spatial distribution of individuals. Examine new models that investigate the impact of spatial or network structure on cultural trait spread compared to well-mixed populations. Gain insights into the spatial and environmental dynamics of cultural interactions, shedding light on fundamental concepts such as social learning, cooperation, and cumulative culture. Apply these concepts broadly to learned behaviors, from bird songs to human languages and cultural traditions.