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1 results

  • 19 - Evolution of Memory Systems in Animals

  • from Part II - Evolution of Memory Processes
  • Edited by Mark A. Krause, Southern Oregon University, Karen L. Hollis, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, Mauricio R. Papini, Texas Christian University
  • Book:
    Evolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms
    Published online:
    26 May 2022
    Print publication:
    19 May 2022, pp 339-358

  • Summary

    Memory provides information for decision making and determines partly what animals can and cannot do. Here we categorize memory systems in animals in terms of their generality and their temporal characteristics, and we explore how evolution has tailored memory systems, considering both the benefits of having access to information and the costs of acquiring and remembering information. General associative memories are flexible and can last for years. In contrast, general short-term memories decay rapidly. We find no evidence of general memory systems used to store sequences of stimuli faithfully. Importantly, seeming limitations of general memory systems may be adaptive as they minimize storage and learning costs. In addition to general memory systems, animals have evolved specialized memories when they need more faithful or longer-lasting memories than afforded by general memory systems. We discuss the consequences of these findings for animal cognition research.