Big Brains and Changing Environments: Cause or Consequence?

Title:Big Brains and Changing Environments: Cause or Consequence?

Abstract:Large brains are metabolically costly, and associations with changing environments do not imply they evolved there, as the Cognitive Buffer Hypothesis (CBH) would suggest. They may instead evolve in stable conditions and later facilitate colonization of changing environments. Using neuro-evolution in an artificial seasonal foraging task, we compared agents evolving exclusively in changing environments to agents first evolved in static environments before transitioning. Results show that larger neural networks in dynamic environments arise mainly from prior static evolution, achieving superior performance under unpredictable changes. Our results challenge strict CBH predictions, provide agent-based (computational) support for a colonization-based account and highlight the role of evolutionary history in brain size evolution.

Neural and Evolutionary Computing (cs.NE); Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI); Populations and Evolution (q-bio.PE)

arXiv:2609.15569 [cs.NE]

(or arXiv:2609.15569v1 [cs.NE] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.15569 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

https://doi.org/10.1145/3795101.3805275 Focus to learn more DOI(s) linking to related resources

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.