[论文解读] Two Cognitive Transitions Underlying the Capacity for Cultural Evolution

Liane Gabora, Cameron M. Smith|PubMed|Nov 23, 2018

Language and cultural evolution参考文献 133被引用 25

一句话总结

本文提出，人类文化演化通过两次认知转变而产生：（1）精细关联记忆的演化，支持自触发回忆（STR），从而促进思维流和表征重述；（2）情境焦点（CF）的出现，使个体能够灵活切换收敛性思维与发散性思维模式。计算建模表明，STR支持早期文化学习，而CF——依赖于STR——通过摆脱思维定势，推动创新与行为现代性。

ABSTRACT

This paper proposes that the distinctively human capacity for cumulative, adaptive, open-ended cultural evolution came about through two temporally-distinct cognitive transitions. First, the origin of Homo-specific culture over two MYA was made possible by the onset of a finer-grained associative memory that allowed episodes to be encoded in greater detail. This in turn meant more overlap amongst the distributed representations of these episodes, such that they could more readily evoke one another through self-triggered recall (STR). STR enabled representational redescription, the chaining of thoughts and actions, and the capacity for a stream of thought. Second, fully cognitive modernity following the appearance of anatomical modernity after 200,000 BP, was made possible by the onset of contextual focus (CF): the ability to shift between an explicit convergent mode conducive to logic and refinement of ideas, and an implicit divergent mode conducive to free-association, viewing situations from radically new perspectives, concept combination, analogical thinking, and insight. This paved the way for an integrated, creative internal network of understandings, and behavioral modernity. We discuss feasible neural mechanisms for this two-stage proposal, and outline how STR and CF differ from other proposals. We provide computational evidence for the proposal obtained with an agent-based model of cultural evolution in which agents invent ideas for actions and imitate the fittest of their neighbors' actions. Mean fitness and diversity of actions across the artificial society increased with STR, and even more so with CF, but CF was only effective if STR was already in place. CF was most effective following a change in task, which supports its hypothesized role in escaping mental fixation. The proposal is discussed in the context of transition theory in the life sciences.

研究动机与目标

• 解释人类累积性、适应性及无止境文化演化的认知基础。
• 识别促成人类文化能力出现的两次截然不同的认知转变。
• 区分自触发回忆（STR）与情境焦点（CF）在支持表征重述与创造性思维中的作用。
• 检验CF仅在STR已建立的前提下才能增强创新的假设。
• 提供一个计算模型，展示这些认知机制如何提升文化传递中的适应度与多样性。

提出的方法

• 本研究提出一个两阶段认知模型：首先，发展出精细关联记忆，以支持详细情境编码与自触发回忆（STR）。
• 其次，情境焦点（CF）出现，即在收敛性思维（逻辑性、分析性）与发散性思维（创造性、类比性）模式之间切换的能力。
• 采用计算代理模型模拟文化演化，其中代理通过发明行为并模仿适应度最高的邻近代理来传递文化。
• 代理利用STR串联思想与行为，利用CF在不同思维模式间切换，以摆脱思维定势并生成新颖解决方案。
• 模型追踪各代中行为的平均适应度与多样性，以评估STR与CF的影响。
• 模型表明，CF仅在STR已存在时才显著提升创新与多样性。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 哪些认知机制促成了从简单文化传递到累积文化演化的转变？
• RQ2 自触发回忆（STR）如何支持思维流与表征重述的发展？
• RQ3 情境焦点（CF）以何种方式促进创造性洞察与概念整合？
• RQ4 为何CF在认知架构中未先建立STR时会失效？
• RQ5 STR与CF如何共同提升模拟社会中文化特征的适应度与多样性？

主要发现

• 自触发回忆（STR）在代理模型中显著提升了行为的平均适应度与多样性，支持早期文化学习及思想的串联。
• 情境焦点（CF）进一步提升了适应度与多样性，但仅在STR已存在时成立，表明两者之间存在依赖关系。
• CF在任务变更后最为有效，支持其在摆脱思维定势与实现基于洞察的创新中的作用。
• 模型表明，CF能够实现根本性新视角的整合与类比思维，这对行为现代性至关重要。
• 该两阶段认知转变模型解释了文化演化的时序序列：STR先于CF出现，与化石与考古学证据一致。
• 计算结果支持如下假设：当CF与STR结合时，可推动无止境、累积性的文化演化，通过实现灵活而富有创造性的认知。