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Comparative study on the cultural transmission of song

Research Project

Project/Area Number 21H00963
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 10040:Experimental psychology-related
Research InstitutionWaseda University

Principal Investigator

Tanaka Masashi  早稲田大学, 文学学術院, 准教授 (20835128)

Project Period (FY) 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥17,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥5,460,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,260,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥9,360,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,160,000)
Keywordsキンカチョウ / 模倣学習 / 文化伝達 / 歌 / 音楽
Outline of Research at the Start

本研究は、人類の文明発展にも寄与したと考えられる文化伝達のプロセスを理解するため、ヒトと、ヒトのように自発的に音声の文化伝達を行う能力をもつキンカチョウという鳥を対象として、長期的に新奇な歌を伝達させる実験を行う。この、文化伝達の種間比較という稀有な試みによって、本研究は、ヒトとキンカチョウの歌において世代を超えて伝えられていく文化的形質を明らかにし、こうした形質が進化していくプロセスを解析する一方で、歌を模倣しているときのヒトとキンカチョウの生理応答や神経活動を比較することで、文化伝達を駆動するメカニズムを多角的に探究する。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to understand the process of cultural transmission, which is believed to have contributed to the development of human civilization. To achieve this aim, we conducted long-term song transmission experiments on humans and zebra finches, a bird species capable of spontaneous imitative learning similar to humans. The experiments focused on transmitting novel songs. The study yielded valuable insights into social factors, acoustic properties, and emotional factors that enhance the efficiency of cultural transmission. Additionally, we could simulate the process of cultural evolution in the lab, including the establishment of new cultures across generations and their convergence with different cultures. Notably, our approach allows us to predict the direction of cultural evolution after introduction of novel cultural traits, which would be useful to elucidate the intricate relationships between our culture and society.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒトの文化伝達は、世代を超えて複雑な技術や価値を成熟させることで、文明の発展に寄与してきたが、いかに社会的要因などが文化伝達に影響を与えるのか、その詳細なメカニズムについては不明な点が多い。本研究では、キンカチョウとヒトを対象とした長期文化伝達実験を開始し、新奇な文化を伝達していく際に生じる文化差や社会性の変化について研究室内でシミュレートできる方法論を確立することができた。今後、比較行動学・比較神経科学のアプローチから研究を継続することで、文化と社会性・嗜好が密接に関連しつつ進化していく複雑なプロセスの理解につながると期待できる。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2023 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2022 Annual Research Report
  • 2021 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All 2023 2022 2021

All Journal Article (1 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 1 results,  Open Access: 1 results) Presentation (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results) Book (2 results)

  • [Journal Article] A comparative perspective on animal cultures2022

    • Author(s)
      Masashi Tanaka
    • Journal Title

      WASEDA RILAS JOURNAL

      Volume: 10 Pages: 61-71

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Presentation] Exploring the role of the nucleus accumbens in social reward processing in zebra finches The 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society2023

    • Author(s)
      Tanaka, M., Matsumura, S., Nishi, N., & Osuka, Y.
    • Organizer
      The 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Unique rhythmic structure shared by music and birdsong but not by speech2023

    • Author(s)
      Tanaka, M., Woo, C., & Abe, K.
    • Organizer
      ICMPC17-APSCOM7
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Exploring the role of the amygdala in the social interaction and song learning of juvenile zebra finches2023

    • Author(s)
      Fujii, T. & Tanaka, M.
    • Organizer
      Japanese Society for Animal Psychology
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
  • [Book] Acoustic Communication in Animals: Vocal Imitation, A Specialized Brain Function That Facilitates Cultural Transmission in Songbirds2023

    • Author(s)
      Masashi Tanaka (Ed: Yoshimasa Seki)
    • Total Pages
      231
    • Publisher
      Springer
    • ISBN
      9789819908318
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
  • [Book] BRAIN SCIENCE REVIEW2021

    • Author(s)
      田中雅史
    • Total Pages
      236
    • Publisher
      アドスリー
    • ISBN
      9784904419991
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2021-04-28   Modified: 2025-01-30  

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