Neural Systems and Artificial Life Group, Institute of Psychology, National Research Council, Rome The emergence of a "language" in an evolving population of neural networks

The evolution of language implies the co-evolution of an ability to respond appropriately to signals (language understanding) and the ability to produce the appropriate signals in the appropriate circumstances (language production). When linguistic signals are produced to inform other individuals, individuals that respond appropriately to signals may increase their reproductive chances but it is less clear what is the reproductive advantage for languages producers. We present simulations in which populations of neural networks living in an environment evolve a simple language with an informative function. Signals are produced to help other individuals to categorize edible and poisonous mushrooms in order to decide whether to approach or avoid encountered mushrooms. Language production, while not under direct evolutionary pressure, evolves as a byproduct of the independently evolving cognitive ability to categorize mushrooms.