An Investigation of Sex Differences, Implicit Memory, and Perceptual Identification in the Survival Memory Paradigm

Abstract

Robust support has been found for a survival processing effect on memory when information is encoded for its fitness relevance (Nairne et al. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 33:263–273, 2007). However, support for this effect has been limited to forms of memory that require intentional, explicit retrieval processes. Thus far, the literature has failed to identify the effect in implicit, automatic memory using conceptual and perceptual production tasks (McBride et al. Mem Cogn 41:862–871, 2013; Tse and Altarriba Mem Cogn 38:1110–1121, 2010). In the current study, an alternative implicit memory test that employs different memory processes was employed in a further attempt to examine the survival processing effect in implicit memory. Participants rated a list of unrelated nouns according to their relevance to either a grassland survival or home-moving scenario in a within-subjects (Experiment 1a) or a between-subjects (Experiment 1b) design. A perceptual identification task was then completed in which accuracy and response times were recorded for the identification of occluded words previously rated in the survival context, moving context, or novel words. Overall, there was no response difference across participants in the implicit or explicit conditions. However, a significant interaction between rating scenario and sex was found in Experiment 1a, suggesting that males and females differentially identify occluded words studied from an evolutionarily relevant perspective. Implications of these results for the survival processing advantage are discussed.