Adaptive memory: evaluating alternative forms of fitness-relevant processing in the survival processing paradigm.

ABSTRACT: Memory may have evolved to preserve information processed in terms of its fitness-relevance. Based on the assumption that the human mind comprises different fitness-relevant adaptive mechanisms contributing to survival and reproductive success, we compared alternative fitness-relevant processing scenarios with survival processing. Participants rated words for relevancy to fitness-relevant and control conditions followed by a delay and surprise recall test (Experiment 1a). Participants recalled more words processed for their relevance to a survival situation. We replicated these findings in an online study (Experiment 2) and a study using revised fitness-relevant scenarios (Experiment 3). Across all experiments, we did not find a mnemonic benefit for alternative fitness-relevant processing

SUBMITTER: Sandry J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3621967 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature