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Cultural Evolution and Learning Strategies in Hominids

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Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans Volume 1

Part of the book series: Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans Series ((RNMH))

Abstract

The most significant difference between Neanderthals and modern humans can be observed in their culture. Compared with Neanderthals and other extinct hominids, modern human cultures have undergone cumulative improvement, which may have caused the great success of our species. I investigate the conditions for humans to improve many cultural traits to achieve a high level culture. I show that the increase of improvement ability brings about frequent improvements and high level culture, but it does not demand a larger brain provided brain size reflects the total number of cultural traits learned by each individual. On the other hand, the increase of individual and social learning abilities does not make culture attain a high level but demands a larger brain. Based on the model results, I present an evolutionary scenario of hominid learning abilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Uehara 207, Nishihara-cho, Nakagami, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan

    Wataru Nakahashi

Authors
  1. Wataru Nakahashi
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Correspondence to Wataru Nakahashi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute, Kochi University of Technology, Kami-shi, Kochi, Japan

    Takeru Akazawa

  2. Tokyo, Japan

    Yoshihiro Nishiaki

  3. Tokyo, Japan

    Kenichi Aoki

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Nakahashi, W. (2013). Cultural Evolution and Learning Strategies in Hominids. In: Akazawa, T., Nishiaki, Y., Aoki, K. (eds) Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans Volume 1. Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans Series. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54511-8_16

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