Effects of memory on spatial heterogeneity in neutrally transmitted culture

Bentley, R.A.; Caiado, C.C.S.; Ormerod, P.

Abstract

We explore how cultural heterogeneity evolves without strong selection pressure or environmental differences between groups. Using a neutral transmission model with an isolation-by-distance spatiality, we test the effect of a simple representation of cultural ‘memory’ on the dynamics of heterogeneity. We find that memory magnifies the effect of affinity while decreasing the effect of individual learning on cultural heterogeneity. This indicates that, while the cost of individual learning governs the frequency of individual learning, memory is important in governing its effect.

Citation

Bentley, R., Caiado, C., & Ormerod, P. (2014). Effects of memory on spatial heterogeneity in neutrally transmitted culture. Evolution and Human Behavior, 35(4), 257-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.02.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 2, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Feb 10, 2014
• Publication Date: Feb 10, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 15, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 28, 2018
• Journal: Evolution and Human Behavior
• Print ISSN: 1090-5138
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 257-263
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.02.001
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1379225