My research investigates how individuals learn from others and make decisions in complex,
changing environments, using a mix of innovative experimental, observational, and physiological
approaches. Two main fundamental questions have guided my research so far. First, I have aimed to
better understand social learning biases in the wild, i.e., when, what and from whom do individuals
learn. One of my most significant contributions in this area is to have revealed that individuals
typically focus their attention on philopatric models, who are females in vervet monkeys. This
directed social learning can lead to complex cultural dynamics at the population level, whereby
different groups differentiate culturally over food preferences, not explained by local resource
availability. Nevertheless, I also showed that immigrant males play a role in diffusing new
knowledge among groups. Specifically, I revealed that even though immigrants readily changed
their diet to conform to the preferences of their group, they can also trigger novel food acquisition
of their group members when other food sources are scarce. Recently, I have been describing three
major phases in the ontogeny of cultural transmission: a vertical transmission phase with infants
learning from their mother, an oblique one with juveniles learning from other group members, and
a horizontal one with immigrants learning from residents, and I am developing research to
understand its role in shaping behavioural pattern at the group and population levels.
Bugnon 7, Salle de séminaires + Online
