According to Nairne's evolutionary theory, which stimuli are remembered best?

Nairne's evolutionary theory of memory posits that our memory systems are adapted to help us survive and navigate our environment. According to this theory, stimuli that are considered useful for providing protection are remembered best because they have significant survival value. This means that stimuli that signal danger or potential threats to one's safety are crucial for our survival and thus are more likely to be encoded and recalled from memory.

For example, remembering the sight of a dangerous animal or an escape route can be vital for survival. The enhanced memory for these protective stimuli is thought to be a result of evolutionary pressures, where individuals who remembered such information were more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Thus, the connection between memory and survival in Nairne’s framework underscores the importance of these survival-relevant stimuli in shaping our memory systems.

This contrasts with other types of stimuli. Emotional visuals might enhance memory due to emotional engagement, but they do not directly relate to the survival instinct emphasized in Nairne's theory. Neutral stimuli lack the connection to survival, making them less memorable. Familiar sounds may be recognized, but they do not necessarily trigger the same urgency or importance in relation to survival as protective stimuli do.