Memory for future actions: the effect of prospective memory on an explicit and implicit memory task

In the field of retrospective memory, an explicit and implicit memory are known to exist. This study analyses the effect of the prospective memory on a recognition task and a lexical decision task.

In experiment 1 (n = 78, of which 39 belonged to the experimental group and 39 belonged to the control group), a recognition task was followed by an intentional task, as well as an incidental free recall task. In experiment 2 (n = 74, of which 37 belonged to the experimental group and 37 belonged to the control group), repetition priming was studied during a lexical decision task, followed by an intentional task. The data were analysed using a mixed ANOVA.

Experiment 1 showed active monitoring of the prospective memory task accompanied by a recollective search process during the recognition task. The group which carried out the prospective task also showed better scores in the incidental free recall task. Experiment 2 showed active monitoring and repetition priming during the lexical decision task.

While the prospective memory affects the performance in both concurrent tasks, it does not affect the recollective search process or repetition priming.