Beyond communication: Episodic memory is key to the self in time.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• The Mahr & Csibra (M&C) hypothesis posits that episodic memory's evolution is primarily linked to establishing epistemic authority in social contexts.
• Existing theories often focus on specific adaptive functions of memory, necessitating a broader examination of episodic memory's evolutionary pressures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a more parsimonious interpretation of episodic memory's evolutionary function.
• To challenge the exclusive focus on epistemic authority in social communication as the sole driver for episodic memory evolution.
• To explore the broader preparatory functions of episodic memory in both social and non-social behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis and argumentation.
• Critique of existing hypotheses on episodic memory evolution.
• Synthesis of evidence from cognitive and evolutionary psychology.

Main Results:

• Episodic memory likely serves a broader preparatory function than solely supporting epistemic authority in social communication.
• A more parsimonious explanation integrates social and non-social behavioral preparation under episodic memory's purview.
• The proposed function aligns with the subjective experience of time and self-representation.

Conclusions:

• Functional accounts of episodic memory should encompass its role in preparing for diverse future events, both social and non-social.
• The evolution of episodic memory may be better understood through a lens that includes general behavioral preparation.
• Future research should investigate the intricate relationship between episodic memory, self-concept, and the subjective experience of time.