Too busy to learn [individual learning interaction with evolutionary algorithm in Busy Beaver problem]

Francisco Baptista Pereira, Penousal Machado, Ernesto Costa, Amílcar Cardoso, Alberto Ochoa-Rodríguez, Roberto Santana, Marta Soto

Abstract: The goal of this research is to analyze how individual learning interacts with an evolutionary algorithm in its search for best candidates for the Busy Beaver problem. To study this interaction, two learning models, implemented as local search procedures, are proposed. Experimental results show that, in highly irregular search spaces that are prone to premature convergence, local search methods are not an effective help to evolution. In addition, one interesting effect related to learning is reported: when the mutation rate is too high, learning acts as a repair, reintroducing some useful information that was lost.