title: A model for the interaction of learning and evolution.
abstract: We present a simple model in order to discuss the interaction of the genetic and behavioral systems throughout evolution. This considers a set of adaptive perceptrons in which some of their synapses can be updated through a learning process. This framework provides an extension of the well-known Hinton and Nowlan model by blending together some learning capability and other (rigid) genetic effects that contribute to the fitness. We find a halting effect in the evolutionary dynamics, in which the transcription of environmental data into genetic information is hindered by learning, instead of stimulated as is usually understood by the so-called Baldwin effect. The present results are discussed and compared with those reported in the literature. An interpretation is provided of the halting effect.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Avanzados, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Uriburu 950, 1114 Buenos Aires, Argentina. hdopazo@dna.uba.ar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dopazo
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perazzo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Risau-Gusman
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010641:Phenotype; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics