An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings
This study investigates the mechanism by which individuals learn to associate signals with meanings in a way that is agreeable to everyone, and thereby, to collectively produce common and stable signaling systems. Previous studies suggest that simple learning algorithms based on local interactions,...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2022
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/155176 |
| _version_ | 1811689537589477376 |
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| author | Oh, Poong Kim, Soojong |
| author2 | Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information |
| author_facet | Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Oh, Poong Kim, Soojong |
| author_sort | Oh, Poong |
| collection | NTU |
| description | This study investigates the mechanism by which individuals learn to associate signals with meanings in a way that is agreeable to everyone, and thereby, to collectively produce common and stable signaling systems. Previous studies suggest that simple learning algorithms based on local interactions, such as reinforcement learning, sufficiently give rise to signaling systems in decentralized populations. However, those algorithms often fail to achieve optimal signaling systems. Under what condition do suboptimal signaling systems emerge? To address this question, we propose a multi-agent model of signaling games with three parameters–memory length, the complexity of communication problems, and population size–as potential constraints imposed on the collective learning process. The results from numerical experiments suggest that finite memory leads to suboptimal signaling systems, characterized by redundant signal-meaning associations. This paper concludes with discussions on the theoretical implications of the findings and the directions of future research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:49:41Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/155176 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:49:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1551762022-02-15T08:35:14Z An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings Oh, Poong Kim, Soojong Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Social sciences::Communication Associate Signals Stable Signaling Systems This study investigates the mechanism by which individuals learn to associate signals with meanings in a way that is agreeable to everyone, and thereby, to collectively produce common and stable signaling systems. Previous studies suggest that simple learning algorithms based on local interactions, such as reinforcement learning, sufficiently give rise to signaling systems in decentralized populations. However, those algorithms often fail to achieve optimal signaling systems. Under what condition do suboptimal signaling systems emerge? To address this question, we propose a multi-agent model of signaling games with three parameters–memory length, the complexity of communication problems, and population size–as potential constraints imposed on the collective learning process. The results from numerical experiments suggest that finite memory leads to suboptimal signaling systems, characterized by redundant signal-meaning associations. This paper concludes with discussions on the theoretical implications of the findings and the directions of future research. Nanyang Technological University This work was supported by Nanyang Technological University [grant numbers M4082139]. 2022-02-15T08:35:14Z 2022-02-15T08:35:14Z 2021 Journal Article Oh, P. & Kim, S. (2021). An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings. Communication Methods and Measures, 15(4), 255-272. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19312458.2020.1768519 1931-2458 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/155176 10.1080/19312458.2020.1768519 2-s2.0-85086656480 4 15 255 272 en M4082139 Communication Methods and Measures © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved. |
| spellingShingle | Social sciences::Communication Associate Signals Stable Signaling Systems Oh, Poong Kim, Soojong An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings |
| title | An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings |
| title_full | An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings |
| title_fullStr | An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings |
| title_full_unstemmed | An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings |
| title_short | An evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings |
| title_sort | evolutionary model of the emergence of meanings |
| topic | Social sciences::Communication Associate Signals Stable Signaling Systems |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/155176 |
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