@article {311294,
	title = {The evolutionary roots of creativity: mechanisms and motivations.},
	journal = {Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci},
	volume = {370},
	number = {1664},
	year = {2015},
	month = {03/19/},
	pages = {20140099},
	abstract = {<p>We consider the evolution of cognition and the emergence of creative behaviour, in relation to vocal communication. We address two key questions: (i) what cognitive and/or social mechanisms have evolved that afford aspects of creativity?; (ii) has natural and/or sexual selection favoured human behaviours considered {\textquoteright}creative{\textquoteright}? This entails analysis of {\textquoteright}creativity{\textquoteright}, an imprecise construct: comparable properties in non-humans differ in magnitude and teleology from generally agreed human creativity. We then address two apparent problems: (i) the difference between merely novel productions and {\textquoteright}creative{\textquoteright} ones; (ii) the emergence of creative behaviour in spite of high cost: does it fit the idea that females choose a male who succeeds in spite of a handicap (costly ornament); or that creative males capable of producing a large and complex song repertoire grew up under favourable conditions; or a demonstration of generally beneficial heightened reasoning capacity; or an opportunity to continually reinforce social bonding through changing communication tropes; or something else? We illustrate and support our argument by reference to whale and bird song; these independently evolved biological signal mechanisms objectively share surface properties with human behaviours generally called {\textquoteright}creative{\textquoteright}. Studying them may elucidate mechanisms underlying human creativity; we outline a research programme to do so.</p>
},
	isbn = {0962-8436},
	url = {http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/370/1664/20140099.long},
	author = {Wiggins, GA and Tyack, P and Scharff, C and Rohrmeier, M}
}
