title: Animal and human innovation: novel problems and novel solutions.
abstract: This theme issue explores how and why behavioural innovation occurs, and the consequences of innovation for individuals, groups and populations. A vast literature on human innovation exists, from the development of problem-solving in children, to the evolution of technology, to the cultural systems supporting innovation. A more recent development is a growing literature on animal innovation, which has demonstrated links between innovation and personality traits, cognitive traits, neural measures, changing conditions, and the current state of the social and physical environment. Here, we introduce these fields, define key terms and discuss the potential for fruitful exchange between the diverse fields researching innovation. Comparisons of innovation between human and non-human animals provide opportunities, but also pitfalls. We also summarize some key findings specifying the circumstances in which innovation occurs, discussing factors such as the intrinsic nature of innovative individuals and the environmental and socio-ecological conditions that promote innovation, such as necessity, opportunity and free resources. We also highlight key controversies, including the relationship between innovation and intelligence, and the notion of innovativeness as an individual-level trait. Finally, we discuss current research methods and suggest some novel approaches that could fruitfully be deployed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 avenue Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1 simon.reader@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Simon M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3785-1357
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Reader
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5186-7710
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morand-Ferron
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Durham University, Durham DH1 1TE, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2340-4273
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D010551:Personality; D011340:Problem Solving; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: behavioural innovation; culture; evolution; intelligence; invention; social learning