Social aggregations in evolving neural networks

Abstract

Sociality is related to space because it can only develop inside spatial aggregations of individuals that can physically interact with each other. We present simulations of populations of simple organisms living together in the same environment. The simulations use genetic algorithms to model the evolution of neural networks behaving in the environment. Spatial aggregations emerge evolutionarily (a) as an indirect by-product of the spatial distribution of resources in the environment and of the actions of the organisms on these resources, (b) as an advantageous adaptation of living inside social groups that fimction as "information centers", (c) as a pre-condition for learning from others.