Nurturing promotes the evolution of learning in uncertain environments

Adapting to a changing and uncertain environment is vital for the long-term success of individuals, whether they are biological or artificial. While learning can be powerful in the adaptation process, a lack of understanding exists in the factors that promote or inhibit its evolution. Nurturing is widely thought to be a contributing factor, if not a requirement, for high levels of learning. In the study described here, we investigated how nurturing contributes to the evolution of learning in uncertain environments using a simple, biologically inspired evolutionary simulation. The simulation predicts that the two models of nurturing used here, nurturing as social learning and nurturing as a means of safe exploration, both promote the evolution of learning in uncertain environments in which learning would otherwise not be a viable strategy. The results also indicate that nurturing is also a factor in improving fitness in environments in which learning is already viable.