An exaggerated preference for simple neural network models of signal evolution?

Journal article

Recently, simple neural network models have been used to explain the evolution of important phenomena in animal signalling, such as extravagant ornamentation and symmetrical signals, as responses to inevitable 'hidden preferences' of recognition systems. We argue that these very simple models may be misleading because they may not behave in important ways like the recognition systems of real animals and so cannot justify their claim to demonstrate general principles of perception in a signall...

Expand abstract

Authors: Dawkins, MS; Guilford, T

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society
• Volume: 261
• Issue: 1362
• Pages: 357-360
• Publication date: 1995-09-01
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1995.0159
• EISSN: 1471-2954
• ISSN: 0962-8452
• Language: English
• Keywords: Female; Biological Evolution; Nerve Net; Brain; Models, Neurological; Animals; Artifacts; Animal Communication; Problem Solving; Male; Models, Psychological