TR available: Evolution, Learning and Culture too!

[Rik Belew]

		   EVOLUTION, LEARNING AND CULTURE:
	   Computational metaphors for adaptive algorithms
				   
			   Richard K. Belew
	      Cognitive Computer Science Research Group
		Computer Science & Engr. Dept. (C-014)
		    Univ. California at San Diego
			  La Jolla, CA 92093
			  rik%cs at ucsd.edu
				   
		    CSE Technical Report #CS89-156

Potential interactions between connectionist learning systems and
algorithms modeled after evolutionary adaptation are becoming of
increasing interest.  In a recent, short and elegant paper Hinton and
Nowlan extend a version of Holland's Genetic Algorithm (GA) to
consider ways in which the evolution of species and the learning of
individuals might interact.  Their model is valuable both because it
provides insight into potential interactions between the {\em natural}
processes of evolution and learning, and as a potential bridge between
the {\em artificial} questions of efficient and effective machine
learning using the GA and connectionist networks.  This paper begins
by describing the GA and Hinton and Nowlan's simulation.  We then
analyze their model, use this analysis to explain its non-trivial
dynamical behaviors, and consider the sensitivity of the simulation to
several key parameters.

Our next step is to interpose a third adaptive system --- culture ---
between the learning of individuals and the evolution of populations.
Culture accumulates the ``wisdom'' of individuals' learning beyond the
lifetime of any one individual but adapts more responsively than the
pace of evolution allows.  We describe a series of experiments in
which the most minimal notion of culture has been added to the Hinton
and Nowlan model, and use this experience to comment on the functional
value of culture and similarities between and interactions among these
three classes of adaptive systems.

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Copies of this technical report are available by sending $3 (and
asking for Technical Report #CS89-156) to:
	Ms. Kathleen Hutcheson
	CSE Dept. (C-014)
	Univ. Calif. -- San Diego
	La Jolla, CA 92093