Is learning really helpful for evolution?

In a recent article in NY Times titled "Lots of Animals Learn, but Smarter Isn’t Better", some interesting results from the research of Dr. Tadeusz Kawecki's group at University of Fribourg and Dr. Reuven Dukas's group at McMaster University is reported. This article discussed the trade-off between the benefits and costs associated with learning in fruit flies. The researchers cleverly designed experiment to stimulate learning in a selected group of fruit flies. After a few generations, although these tiny creatures became "smarter" (fast learners), their survival capabilities became inferior compared to the "non-smart" flies.

In the concluding remarks, these scientists hypothesize that (a) "learning evolves to higher levels only when it is a better way to respond to the environment than relying on automatic responses," and (b) "Forming neuron connections may cause harmful side effects", (c) "Each species evolves until it reaches an equilibrium between the costs and benefits of learning."

In the context of evolution of intelligence in humans, Kawecki, perhaps light-heartedly, posits that one just has to be smarter than others to survive or make progress.