Why do evolved creatures talk to themselves?

Researchers evolved neural network agents in a predator avoidance game where they could vocalize and hear themselves. About 20% of successful agents developed a striking strategy: they relied on hearing their own calls to sustain escape behavior, using communication as self-regulation rather than signaling to others. Removing self-hearing crippled these agents while barely affecting those using calls to signal from safety, suggesting evolution discovered communication's overlooked function—talking to yourself works.