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  • 4 - Experimental Evolution and Mechanisms for Prepared Learning

  • from Part I - Evolution of Learning Processes
  • Edited by Mark A. Krause, Southern Oregon University, Karen L. Hollis, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, Mauricio R. Papini, Texas Christian University
  • Book:
    Evolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms
    Published online:
    26 May 2022
    Print publication:
    19 May 2022, pp 71-88

  • Summary

    Decades of research contend with the notion that animals come prepared by evolution to learn about some stimuli and responses better than others. Biological preparedness – and contrapreparedness – can influence how potential information is acquired, processed, and used in decision-making. Theory predicts that preparedness is the result of patterns of reliability of stimuli in predicting reward across the evolutionary history of the lineage. The evolution of preparedness can be tested experimentally, and also by considering the natural history and the pattern of reliability of stimuli and rewards for a given species. We present predictions as well as explanations for how evolution can prepare animals to make choices about their environment. Why animals learn some things better than others is at the heart of what makes behavior adaptive and by working from relatively simple theory it is possible to directly test these hypotheses and analyze traits both underlying and evolving with prepared learning.