Comparative study on the cultural transmission of song

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H00963
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 10040:Experimental psychology-related
• Research Institution: Waseda 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
• Keywords: キンカチョウ / 模倣学習 / 文化伝達 / 歌 / 音楽

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.

Free Research Field

実験心理学

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。