Fast and Flexible Group Decision-Making in Animal Behavior

Explore group decision-making dynamics in animal societies through this Presidential Lecture that investigates how groups without centralized control navigate complex environments. Delve into the mechanisms behind collective decision-making, focusing on how animals in groups outperform solitary individuals in tasks like foraging, migration, and predator avoidance. Learn about a groundbreaking model that emphasizes the crucial roles of nonlinearity, feedback, and social interaction structures in group behavior. Discover new insights into how animal groups break through indecision when delays become costly and adapt their sensitivity to environmental stimuli based on changing contexts. The 48-minute presentation by Naomi Ehrich Leonard examines the fascinating intersection of social interaction, group dynamics, and adaptive decision-making in animal communities.