The cultural evolution of language
Highlights•Key design features of language can be explained as the result of cultural
evolution.•Experiments have found that structure emerges through transmission and …
evolution.•Experiments have found that structure emerges through transmission and …
Cumulative culture in the laboratory: Methodological and theoretical challenges
In the last decade, cultural transmission experiments (transmission chains, replacement,
closed groups and seeded groups) have become important experimental tools in …
closed groups and seeded groups) have become important experimental tools in …
Musical evolution in the lab exhibits rhythmic universals
Music exhibits some cross-cultural similarities, despite its variety across the world. Evidence
from a broad range of human cultures suggests the existence of musical universals, here …
from a broad range of human cultures suggests the existence of musical universals, here …
Gibbs sampling with people
A core problem in cognitive science and machine learning is to understand how humans
derive semantic representations from perceptual objects, such as color from an apple …
derive semantic representations from perceptual objects, such as color from an apple …
A decomposition method for global evaluation of Shannon entropy and local estimations of algorithmic complexity
We investigate the properties of a Block Decomposition Method (BDM), which extends the
power of a Coding Theorem Method (CTM) that approximates local estimations of …
power of a Coding Theorem Method (CTM) that approximates local estimations of …
Replication and emergence in cultural transmission
Humans are fundamentally defined by our socially transmitted, often long-lived,
sophisticated cultural traits. The nature of cultural transmission is the subject of ongoing …
sophisticated cultural traits. The nature of cultural transmission is the subject of ongoing …
Experimental studies on the cultural evolution of language
Why are languages the way they are? The biases and constraints that explain why
languages display the traits they do—instead of other possible ones—include human …
languages display the traits they do—instead of other possible ones—include human …
Two-dimensional Kolmogorov complexity and an empirical validation of the Coding theorem method by compressibility
We propose a measure based upon the fundamental theoretical concept in algorithmic
information theory that provides a natural approach to the problem of evaluating n …
information theory that provides a natural approach to the problem of evaluating n …
Systematicity, but not compositionality: Examining the emergence of linguistic structure in children and adults using iterated learning
Recent work suggests that cultural transmission can lead to the emergence of linguistic
structure as speakers' weak individual biases become amplified through iterated learning …
structure as speakers' weak individual biases become amplified through iterated learning …
Experimental Semiotics: past, present, and future
Experimental semiotics (ES) investigates how novel semiotic systems emerge by observing
people ground communication in lab games, thus exposing the fundamental principles of …
people ground communication in lab games, thus exposing the fundamental principles of …