Adaptive Constructive Processes and the Future of Memory.

This article examines adaptive constructive processes (APC), functional for memorizing and cognition and can also create distortions, errors and illusions. It discusses different types of memory errors that are produced by APCs. In particular, it focuses on the process of imagining or simulating events which may occur in a person's own future. The author lists the adaptive aspects and pitfalls of future event simulation. The pitfalls include misprediction of future and planning fallacy and also instability of future simulations. Some of the evidences that support an adaptive role for future simulation indicates that they can benefit objective cognition and also enhance prospective and retrospective memory.