Adaptive memory: survival processing enhances retention.

Full Abstract

The authors investigated the idea that memory systems might have evolved to help us remember fitness-relevant information--specifically, information relevant to survival. In 4 incidental learning experiments, people were asked to rate common nouns for their survival relevance (e.g., in securing food, water, or protection from predators); in control conditions, the same words were rated for pleasantness, relevance to moving to a foreign land, or personal relevance. In surprise retention tests, participants consistently showed the best memory when words were rated for survival; the survival advantage held across recall, recognition, and for both within-subject and between-subjects designs. These findings suggest that memory systems are "tuned" to remember information that is processed for fitness, perhaps as a result of survival advantages accrued in the past.

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Author information

Author/s: Nairne, James S (JS); Thompson, Sarah R (SR); Pandeirada, Josefa N S (JN);

Affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. nairne(-atsign-)psych.purdue.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition (J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 33 (issue 2) : pp 263-73

Dates: Created 2007/03/13; Completed 2007/05/30;

PMID: 17352610, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Mental Recall
Predatory Behavior
Reaction Time
Retention (Psychology)
Semantics
Students - psychology
Survival - psychology
Thirst
Verbal Learning

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