A new study using a modified version of the popular video game Minecraft has uncovered clues about how people learn and adapt. The research, published April 25 in Nature Communications, shows that people who change strategies at the right time tend to perform better.

Cognitive scientist Charley Wu from the University of Tübingen in Germany said the researchers wanted to understand what makes human social learning unique. While many animals learn from each other, humans seem to do it in a more flexible and complex way, often combining personal experience with social cues.

In the study, 128 players explored a virtual Minecraft world in search of hidden rewards like pumpkins and watermelons. Players either searched alone or in groups of four. The prizes were marked by floating blue flares that made them visible to others. In one version of the game, the rewards were randomly scattered. In another, they were grouped in clusters, making it easier to find more rewards near a spot where one had already been found.

Study participants explored a virtual Minecraft world in search of hidden rewards like pumpkins and watermelons. (Photo: Charley M. Wu)

The best-performing players were those who adapted their strategy depending on the situation. When rewards were clustered, players often stayed close to where they or others had found a prize. When rewards were scattered, they moved farther away to search new areas. This flexible behavior was seen whether players were on their own or part of a group. In group settings, the strongest players also learned to copy the right teammate at the right time, showing awareness of who was succeeding.

The study showed that people are not simply choosing between copying others or figuring things out for themselves. Instead, they combine both approaches in smart ways depending on the environment. Wu said that adaptability in both social and individual learning was the best predictor of success in the game.

Natalia Vélez, a cognitive scientist at Princeton University, said the research also highlights the value of using video games to study human behavior. She cautioned that while the Minecraft experiment involved competition for limited resources, real-life situations often allow people to share knowledge and benefit together. Learning from others, she added, is one of the main ways people create new ideas and solve problems.

By combining visual tracking and behavior modeling in an immersive digital world, the researchers created a detailed look at how people adjust their learning strategies. Their findings suggest that successful learners are those who adapt quickly to both their surroundings and the actions of others.

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