Evolution of temporal interaction: A comparative approach to social timing
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Abstract
Increasing empirical research shows a deep connection between timing processes and neural processing of social information. An integrative theoretical framework for prospective studies in humans was recently proposed, linking timing to sociality. A similar framework guiding research in non-human animals is desirable, ideally encompassing as many taxonomic groups and sensory modalities as possible in order to embrace the diversity of social and timing behaviour across species. Here we expand on a previous theoretical account, introducing this debate to animal behaviour. We suggest adopting an evolutionary perspective on social timing in animals: i.e. a comparative approach to probe the link between temporal and social behaviour across a broad range of animal species. This approach should advance our understanding of animal social timing that is, how social behaviour and timing are mutually affected, and possibly of its evolutionary history in our own lineage. We conclude by identifying outstanding questions and testable hypotheses in animal social timing.
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2017. Evolution of temporal interaction: A comparative approach to social timing. PeerJ Preprints 5:e3275v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.3275v1Author comment
This is a preprint submission to PeerJ Preprints.
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Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Andrea Ravignani is a Marie Curie guest scientist, not an employee, of Sealcentre Pieterburen.
Author Contributions
Andrea Ravignani wrote the paper, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Sonja Kotz wrote the paper, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Data Deposition
The following information was supplied regarding data availability:
The research in this article did not generate any data or code (because it is a review/theory article).
Funding
Andrea Ravignani has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 665501 with the research Foundation Flanders (FWO) (Pegasus2 Marie Curie fellowship 12N5517N), and a visiting fellowship in Language Evolution from the Max Planck Society. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
