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Neutral models are a tool, not a syndrome

Nature Human Behaviour volume 5, pages 807–808 (2021)Cite this article

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To the Editor — Recently in this journal, neutral models in cultural evolution were described as a ‘syndrome’1. Though a rich review, the Perspective mischaracterizes their purpose and rationale and overlooks new tools specifically developed for cultural and behavioural data.

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Fig. 1: The neutrality hypothesis is non-monolithic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

    R. Alexander Bentley & Damian J. Ruck

  2. McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge, UK

    Simon Carrignon

  3. Advai Ltd, London, UK

    Damian J. Ruck

  4. Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, Consejo Superior Investigaciones Cientificas - Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

    Sergi Valverde

  5. Office of the Provost, Texas A&M University–San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Michael J. O’Brien

  6. Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Michael J. O’Brien

Authors
  1. R. Alexander Bentley
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  2. Simon Carrignon
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  3. Damian J. Ruck
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  4. Sergi Valverde
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  5. Michael J. O’Brien
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Correspondence to R. Alexander Bentley.

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Peer review information Nature Human Behaviour thanks the anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Bentley, R.A., Carrignon, S., Ruck, D.J. et al. Neutral models are a tool, not a syndrome. Nat Hum Behav 5, 807–808 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01149-x

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