The evolution of foresight: What is mental time travel, and is it unique to humans?
@article{Suddendorf2007TheEO,
title={The evolution of foresight: What is mental time travel, and is it unique to humans?},
author={Thomas Suddendorf and Michael C. Corballis},
journal={The Behavioral and brain sciences},
year={2007},
volume={30 3},
pages={
299-313; discussion 313-51
}
}In a dynamic world, mechanisms allowing prediction of future situations can provide a selective advantage. We suggest that memory systems differ in the degree of flexibility they offer for anticipatory behavior and put forward a corresponding taxonomy of prospection. The adaptive advantage of any memory system can only lie in what it contributes for future survival. The most flexible is episodic memory, which we suggest is part of a more general faculty of mental time travel that allows us not…
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