Nicole Creanza on Cultural Evolution in Humans and Songbirds

Explore the fascinating world of cultural evolution in humans and songbirds through this insightful lecture by Nicole Creanza, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. Delve into the complex interplay between genes, culture, and learned behaviors as Creanza merges computational and theoretical approaches to compare cultural and genetic evolution in human languages and birdsong. Discover how geography, genetics, behavior, and technology intersect in surprising ways, and learn how the study of gene-culture interactions may provide answers to some of natural history's greatest mysteries. Examine concepts such as vertical transmission, evolutionary patterns, partial connectivity, and the relationship between cultural complexity and population size. Investigate the role of environmental factors in shaping cultural innovations and long-term disruptions. Compare and contrast the evolution of stone tools with songbird vocalizations, exploring how songbirds can serve as both tools and models for understanding human culture. Gain insights into environmental heterogeneity and its impact on songbird dialects, offering a unique perspective on the dynamics of cultural evolution across species.