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Future thinking improves prospective memory performance and plan enactment in older adults.

Mareike Altgassen1, Peter G Rendell, Anka Bernhard

  • 1a Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour , Radboud University Nijmegen , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|September 6, 2014
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Summary

Imagining future actions improves prospective memory (PM) for both younger and older adults. This simple strategy enhances intention fulfillment and plan execution, benefiting everyday cognitive function across the lifespan.

Keywords:
AgeingFuture thinkingImageryPlanningProspective memory

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human development

Background:

  • Prospective memory (PM) is crucial for daily functioning.
  • Efficient intention formation may reduce cognitive load during task execution.
  • The impact of future thinking on PM across the adult lifespan is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically assess if imagining a future action enhances prospective memory performance.
  • To determine if this enhancement is equivalent across different adult age groups.
  • To investigate the role of future thinking in intention formation and execution.

Main Methods:

  • Participants: Younger (n=40) and older (n=40) adults.
  • Task: Dresden Breakfast Task, involving rule-based preparation under time constraints.
  • Intervention: Future thinking condition (imagining task completion) vs. control condition (standard instructions).

Main Results:

  • Younger adults generally outperformed older adults in prospective memory.
  • Both age groups showed equal benefits from future thinking, with improved PM responses and plan execution.
  • Future thinking led to a higher proportion of prospective memory responses and more accurate plan execution.

Conclusions:

  • Imagining the future execution context is an effective strategy to enhance prospective memory.
  • This strategy benefits both younger and older adults equally.
  • Future thinking can be an easily implemented method to improve everyday prospective memory function.