Positive autobiographical memory retrieval reduces temporal discounting

Positive autobiographical memory retrieval reduces temporal discounting

People generally prefer rewards sooner rather than later. This phenomenon, temporal discounting, underlies many societal problems, including addiction and obesity. One way to reduce temporal discounting is to imagine positive future experiences. Since there is overlap in the neural circuitry associated with imagining future experiences and remembering past events, here we investigate whether re...

Similar psychological distance reduces temporal discounting.

People often prefer inferior options in the present even when options in the future are more lucrative. Five studies investigated whether decision making could be improved by manipulating construal level and psychological distance. In Studies 1a, 1b, and 2, temporal discounting was reduced when future rewards (trips to Paris) were construed at a relatively concrete level, thus inducing a simila...

Autobiographical memory and aging

Autobiographical memory, or memory for personal experiences, allows individuals to define themselves and construct a meaningful life story. Current research aims to review the definition and theories of autobiographies memory and how it usually changes or abnormally in older adults. Base on studies, as we grow older autobiographical memory drops off, also semantic memory changes a little or som...

Operant conditioning of autobiographical memory retrieval.

Functional avoidance is considered as one of the key mechanisms underlying overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM). According to this view OGM is regarded as a learned cognitive avoidance strategy, based on principles of operant conditioning; i.e., individuals learn to avoid the emotionally painful consequences associated with the retrieval of specific negative memories. The aim of the presen...

Temporal Knowledge and Autobiographical Memory --- 1 Running Head: TEMPORAL KNOWLEDGE AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY Temporal Knowledge and Autobiographical Memory: An Evolutionary Perspective