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Prospective Memory

Outline

• What is Prospective Memory (PM)?

• How do we study PM?

• Models/Theories of PM?

Objectives

• Be Able to Define Prospective Memory

(PM)

• Name Types of Prospective Memory (PM)

and Examples

• Name Phases/Stages of PM

Objectives

• Name ways used to test PM

• Introduction to the main theoretical

approaches

• Brief introduction to the neural correlates

of PM

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Executive Functions

• PM part of Executive Functions

• Executive Functions: An umbrella term for

cognitive processes that regulate, control,

and manage other cognitive processes

(planning, inhibition, problem solving,

multitasking, etc)

What is Prospective Memory (PM)?

What is PM?

• Number of functions that enable a person

to carry out an intended act after a delay

(Burgess et al., 2001)

• Delayed intentions: intentions that involve

activities that cannot be executed

immediately, and have to be stored in

memory and be executed in the future

(Ellis & Kvavilashvili, 2000)

What is PM?

• PM is an umbrella term to describe a

function supported by many constructs

such as planning, attention, action control,

monitoring (Burgess & Shallice, 1997;

Burgess, Dumontheil, Gilbert, Okuda,

Schölvinck, & Simons, 2008)

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Why Study PM? When PM goes wrong….

Why Study PM?

• Essential to everyday functioning, or even,

survival!

• A significant number (50–80%) of all

everyday memory problems are, at least in

part, prospective memory (PM) problems

(Kliegel & Martin, 2003)

Why Study PM?

• Aging effects on PM

• PM is impaired in many disorders:

- Developmental disorders (ASD, ADHD)

- Schizophrenia

- Dementia

- Depression

PM Versus Retrospective Memory

Prospective Remembering Requires Retrospective Memory

Single Dissociation (PM impaired with intact RM).

Example: Case studies with patients with amnesia

Patient GAS (Alderman & Burgess, 1993).

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A PM task for today!

• Raise your hands when this picture

appears during

the lecture:

Types of PM

• Event-Based: the appropriate moment for

executing an intended action is triggered by an

external cue or event

• Time-Based: intended action is executed at a

specific point in time or after a particular elapsed

time

• Activity Based: it is necessary to perform an

intended action after the completion of another

activity

Types of PM

• Focus on Event-Based and Time-Based PM.

• Time-based PM tasks are generally harder to

remember (extra processes involved).

• People with brain injury, neurological disorders

show impairments mostly on time-based PM

tasks.

Phases of PM

• Encoding: Intention for future acitivity is

formed and encoded

• Storage: Maintenance of delayed

intention, while performing ongoing task

• Retrieval: Execution of encoded intention

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Event – Based PM Event – Based PM

Event – Based PM Event – Based PM

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Time – Based PM Intention:

Watch favourite show

at 8:30 on Monday!

Time – Based PM

Cue:

It’s 8:30 on a Monday!

Time – Based PM

How do we study PM?

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Tests of PM

• Self Reports

• First studies of PM

• Questionnaires:

• Everyday Memory Questionnaire (Sunderland

et al., 1984)

• The Prospective and Retrospective Memory

Questionnaire (PRMQ) (Smith et al., 2000)

Tests of PM The Prospective and Retrospective Memory

Questionnaire (PRMQ)

Crawford et al., 2003

Tests of PM Tests of PM

• Typically, participants are engaged in an

“ongoing task”

• PM conditions: continue performing the

ongoing task, but press a different button if

you see a cue

Lab Based Tasks

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Tests of PM

Models/Theories of PM

Models of PM

• the preparatory attentional and memory processes

(PAM) theory (Smith,2003; Smith & Bayen, 2004)

• the multiprocess theory (McDaniel & Einstein,

2007)

• model of the attentional control of behaviour

(Norman & Shallice, 1986; Shallice & Burgess,

1991; Shallice & Burgess, 1996).

• Theory of Monitoring (Guynn, 2008)

Models of PM the preparatory attentional and memory processes (PAM)

theory (Smith,2003; Smith & Bayen, 2004)

PM retrieval is always mediated by nonautomatic

preparatory attentional and retrospective memory

processes

Preparatory attentional processes are engaged

throughout ongoing activity – effect of PM on ongoing

tasks?

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Models of PM

The multiprocess theory (McDaniel & Einstein, 2007)

PM retrieval is mediated by relatively automatic

processes under some conditions and by more strategic

processes under other conditions

Monitoring plays a more important role in some

conditions compared to others!

Models of PM

Model of the attentional control of behaviour (Norman &

Shallice, 1986; Shallice & Burgess, 1991; Shallice &

Burgess, 1996).

Models of PM

Theory of Monitoring (Guynn, 2008)

Complimentary to existing theories of PM

Highlights role of monitoring in PM

Neural Correlates of PM

Gilbert, 2011

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CAR RAT

CAR SHIRT

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RAT SHIRT

Neural Correlates of PM

Overlay of areas activated during

maintenance of

intention (blue;

PM>Ctrl) and

control task (red; Ctrl>PM).

Overlay of areas

activated during

encoding (yellow)

and retrieval

(red) of delayed

intentions.

Overlay of areas

activated during

encoding (yellow)

and retrieval

(red) of delayed

intentions.

Overlay of areas activated during

encoding (yellow)

and retrieval (red) of

delayed

intentions.

Gilbert, Armbruster, Panagiotidi, 2012

Neural Correlates of PM

Overlay of areas

activated during

encoding (yellow)

and retrieval

(red) of delayed

intentions.

Overlay of areas

activated during

encoding (yellow)

and retrieval

(red) of delayed

intentions.

- Above findings consistent with studies on patients

- Confirm the involvement of executive and memory

component in PM.

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Summary What is PM?

• Remembering to remember

• Event-based, time-based PM

• 3 stages: encoding, maintenance, retrieval

• Depends on Retrospective Memory and

executive functions

Summary

• Tests of PM: lab-based, questionnaires,

self reports

• Two models: the preparatory attentional

and memory processes theory, the

multiprocess theory

• Neural correlates: prefrontal cortex for

executive function part, parietal cortex,

hippocampus for retrospective.

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?

pcp10mp@sheffield.ac.uk