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bioRxiv · 10.1101/028357

Evolving synergetic interactions

Bin Wu·Jordi Arranz·Jinming Du·Da Zhou·Arne Traulsen
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Abstract

The outcome of a major evolutionary transition is the aggregation of independent entities into a new synergetic level of organisation. Classical models involve either pairwise interactions between individuals or a linear superposition of these interactions. However, major evolutionary transitions display synergetic effects: their outcome is not just the sum of its parts. Multiplayer games can display such synergies, as their payoff can be different from the sum of any collection of two-player interactions. Assuming that all interactions start from pairs, how can synergetic multiplayer games emerge from simpler pairwise interaction? Here, we present a mathematical model that captures the transition from pairwise interactions to synergetic multiplayer ones. We assume that different social groups have different breaking rates. We show that non-uniform breaking rates do foster the emergence of synergy, even though individuals always interact in pairs. Our work sheds new light on the mechanisms underlying a major evolutionary transition.

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Bin Wu, Jordi Arranz, Jinming Du, Da Zhou, Arne Traulsen. 2015-10-04. Evolving synergetic interactions. https://doi.org/10.1101/028357

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