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Implementation-intention encoding in a prospective memory task enhances spontaneous retrieval of intentions.
Jan Rummel1, Gilles O Einstein, Hilary Rampey
1Department of Psychology, Furman University, Greenville, SC, USA. rummel@uni-mannheim.de
Memory (Hove, England)
|August 18, 2012
Summary
Forming implementation intentions enhances prospective memory by increasing spontaneous retrieval of target cues. This effect is linked to how target cues are activated, suggesting a dual mechanism for improved memory performance.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Implementation intentions generally improve prospective memory.
- The cognitive mechanisms behind this improvement are not fully understood.
- Two main explanations: spontaneous retrieval or enhanced cue monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test alternative explanations for implementation intention benefits.
- To investigate cognitive mechanisms underlying prospective memory enhancement.
- To differentiate between spontaneous retrieval and monitoring hypotheses.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments using a lexical decision task with a suspended intention.
- Participants formed implementation intentions to respond to target cues.
- An intervening word-categorisation task assessed response times after target cue occurrences.
Main Results:
- Experiment 1: Slower response times after target cues with implementation intentions, suggesting increased spontaneous retrieval.
- Experiment 2: Similar slowing with standard and implementation-intention encoding when target-cue activation was controlled.
- Results imply both encoding and target-cue activation influence spontaneous retrieval.
Conclusions:
- Implementation intention encoding enhances prospective memory through spontaneous retrieval.
- Increased target-cue activation also contributes to spontaneous retrieval.
- Findings clarify cognitive mechanisms of implementation intention benefits in prospective memory.
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