Evolution of communication in artificial organisms

Abstract

A population of artificial organisms evolved simple communication protocols for mate finding. Female animals in our artificial environment had the ability to see males and to emit sounds. Male animals were blind, but could hear signals from females. Thus, the environment was designed to favor organisms that evolved to generate and interpret meaningful signals. Starting with random neural networks, the simulation resulted in a progression of generations that exhibit increasingly effective mate-finding strategies. In addition, a number of distinct subspecies, i.e., groups with different signaling protocols or 'dialects,' evolve and compete. These protocols become a behavioral barrier to mating that supports the formation of distinct subspecies. Experiments with physical barriers in the environment were also performed. A partially permeable barrier allows a separate subspecies to evolve and survive for indefinite periods of time, in spite of occasional migration and contact from members of other subspecies.