Effective external reminders impair the practice effect of time-based prospective memory
Yunfei Guo1, Jiaqun Gan1, Yifan Ping1
1Faculty of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.
Summary
External reminders may hinder the practice effect of time-based prospective memory (TBPM). While reminders initially improve TBPM performance, they can impede long-term gains and time estimation skills after the reminders are removed.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Memory
Background:
- Repetitive behavioral training enhances time-based prospective memory (TBPM) performance, known as the practice effect.
- External reminders are commonly used to aid TBPM task completion, especially when attention to time is low.
- The potential negative impact of reminders on the TBPM practice effect remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether external reminders impede the practice effect of time-based prospective memory (TBPM).
- To examine the effects of reminders on time monitoring and time estimation abilities in relation to TBPM.
- To compare the long-term effects of training with and without reminders on TBPM performance.
Main Methods:
- 81 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to a control group, a reminder group, or a non-reminder group.
- The reminder group received external reminders during a training stage, while the non-reminder group did not.
- TBPM performance, time monitoring, and time estimation were assessed during training and a subsequent testing stage without reminders.
Main Results:
- During training, the reminder group showed fewer time monitoring instances and better TBPM performance compared to the non-reminder group.
- In the testing stage, the reminder group's TBPM performance did not improve compared to the control group.
- The non-reminder group exhibited significant improvement in TBPM performance, and both time estimation abilities were less enhanced in the reminder group.
Conclusions:
- External reminders can interfere with the development of the practice effect in time-based prospective memory.
- Reliance on reminders may diminish the long-term benefits of behavioral training for TBPM.
- Reminders might negatively impact the development of time monitoring and estimation skills crucial for sustained TBPM performance.
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