Beyond arousal and valence: A meta-analysis on the effect of survival relevance on duration estimation

Abstract

Our memory system is optimized to process and retain survival-relevant information. This adaptation occurs primarily because our memory systems have been shaped by natural selection to operate based on evolutionary fitness criteria. Although the impact of survival relevance on memory has been established, there is still much contention regarding how survival relevance influences duration estimation. This meta-analysis systematically investigated whether survival relevance affects duration estimation and which factors modulate it. A set of selection criteria was employed to evaluate and determine the eligibility of existing studies for inclusion in the meta-analytic procedure. Research was identified using the electronic search function in eight databases. Following this approach, 46 empirical studies and 104 effect sizes (N = 2834 participants) were included in this research. The results showed that (1) there was a significant effect size for the effect of survival relevance on duration estimation and (2) moderator analyses found that survival relevance, stimuli type, and temporal paradigm were significant moderators of the effect, while age and gender showed no significant moderating effects on duration estimation. In conclusion, we aim to elucidate the significance of time cognition in survival contexts and provide a framework for understanding how survival relevance shapes duration estimation.