Figure 2.
The effect of copying inaccuracy and trial-and-error on assimilation rates of the seeded innovation. Assimilation time (number of iterations until 95% of the population acquired the skill) for different combinations of σI (trial-and-error range) and σc (copy inaccuracy) in simulations of (a) Model 1: stochastic trial-and-error; (b) Model 2: trial-and-error with template updating and (c) Model 3: trial-and-error learning in a variable environment. Colours indicate the assimilation time. The white area depicts simulations in which the innovation did not reach the assimilation threshold after 500 iterations. The small circles and their respective regression lines present the fastest assimilation for each value of σc. (d) Assimilation time for different values of σI when σc = 0 in Model 3. Note that, in this model, some degree of trial-and-error produces the most efficient cultural transmission, even without any copying error.