How cognition shapes cognitive evolution

Reflects on the evolution of scientists' understanding of evolution as a function of the kinds of modeling tools they create. Over the years, models of the evolution of cognition have progressed from those in which the environment is assumed to be static to models in which the environment changes, but only in terms of physical characteristics, to models in which the environment changes according to the influences of competitors that have perceptual and cognitive abilities. The latter models are called psychological selection models, and the authors argue that sophisticated models which assume adaptation based on complex interactions with other organisms might be useful for AI researchers who are developing artificial models of cognitive complexity.