Learning in Individual Organisms, Genes, Machines, and Groups
A New Way of Defining and Relating Learning in Different Systems
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21786366 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jan De Houwer (0000-0003-0488-5224, Ghent University, corresponding author), Sean Hughes (0000-0002-2264-8479, Ghent University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 649-663 |
| Publication date | 2023-05-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Perspectives on Psychological Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1745-6916 • E-ISSN: 1745-6924 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/17456916221114886 |
| PMID | 36257050 |
| OpenAlex | W4306751265 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 21 |
Learning is a central concept in many scientific disciplines. Communication about research on learning is, however, hampered by the fact that different researchers define learning in different ways. In this article, we introduce the extended functional definition of learning that can be used across scientific disciplines. We provide examples of how the definition can be applied to individual organisms, genes, machines, and groups. Using the extended functional definition (a) reveals a heuristic framework for research that can be applied across scientific disciplines, (b) allows researchers to engage in intersystem analyses that relate the behavior and learning of different systems, and (c) clarifies how learning differs from other phenomena such as (changes in) behavior, damaging systems, and programming systems
Cognitive science · Heuristic · Computer Science · Evolution and Genetic Dynamics · Evolutionary Algorithms and Applications · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |