Survival Processing Effect in Memory Under Semantic Divided Attention

Past research demonstrated enhanced memory for information encoded with relevance to a survival scenario compared to a control scenario, an effect referred to as the survival processing effect in memory. This effect has been explained by a proximate mechanism hypothesis (i.e., survival processing enables deep elaborative processing that promotes memory). In support of this hypothesis, past research found that, during encoding, the survival processing effect was largely intact under a perceptual or low-load secondary task condition but eliminated under a high-load secondary task condition. To test semantic encoding as a possible proximate mechanism, the current study assesses the impact of high-load and low-load divided attention tasks that require semantic processing of digits on the survival processing effect. Seventy-two young adults rated words for their relevance to two survival scenarios (i.e., grassland and mountain) and one non-survival control scenario (i.e., cruise), while completing a concurrent high-load or low-load semantic digit-monitoring task. No survival processing effect was found in either condition. The results suggest that semantic encoding probably serves as a proximate mechanism for the survival processing effect in memory. Public Significance Statement This study assesses the impact of high-load and low-load divided attention tasks that require semantic processing of digits on the survival processing effect in memory. The results revealed that the survival processing effect was eliminated under both high-load and low-load semantic processing divided attention conditions. This suggests that semantic encoding could possibly serve as a proximate mechanism for the survival processing effect in memory. Les recherches antérieures ont révélé une meilleure mémorisation de l'information encodée qui est jugée pertinente dans un contexte de survie comparativement à un contexte de contrôle, ce qui a été désigné l'effet du traitement de survie sur la mémoire. On a expliqué cet effet au moyen d'une hypothèse sur le mécanisme de proximité (c.-à-d., le traitement de survie permet un profond traitement élaboré qui améliore la mémoire). En appui à cette hypothèse, les recherches antérieures ont établi que, durant l'encodage, l'effet du traitement de survie restait largement intact dans une tâche perceptive secondaire ou de charge allégée, mais qu'il était supprimé dans une tâche secondaire exigeante. Pour vérifier l'encodage sémantique en tant qu'éven