While there are many books on retrospective memory, or remembering past events, Prospective Memory: An Overview and Synthesis of an Emerging Field is the first authored text to provide a straightforward and integrated foundation to the scientific study of memory for actions to be performed in the future. Authors Mark A. McDaniel and Gilles O. Einstein present an accessible overview and synthesis of the theoretical and empirical work in this emerging field.
Key Features:
Focuses on students rather than researchers: While there are many edited works on prospective memory, this is the first authored text written in an accessible style geared toward students.
Provides a general approach for the controlled, laboratory study of prospective memory: The authors place issues and research on prospective memory within the context of general contemporary themes in psychology, such as the issue of the degree to which human behavior is mediated by controlled versus automatic processes.
Investigates the cognitive processes that underlie prospective remembering: Examples are provided of event-based, time-based, and activity-based prospective memory tasks while subjects are engaged in ongoing activities to parallel day-to-day life.
Suggests fruitful directions for further advancement: In addition to integrating what is now a fairly loosely connected theoretical and empirical field, this book goes beyond current work to encourage new theoretical insights.
Intended Audience:
This relatively brief book is an excellent supplemental text for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses such as Memory, Human Memory, and Learning & Memory in the departments of psychology and cognitive science.
1. Prospective Memory: A New Research Enterprise
What is a Prospective Memory Task?
Scientific Study of Prospective Memory
2. Monitoring in Prospective Memory
Attentional Monitoring
Preparatory Attentional Processes
To Monitor or Not to Monitor: When is the Question
Summary
3. Spontaneous Retrieval in Prospective Remembering
Costs of Prospective Memory: Always Present?
Spontaneous Retrieval
Spontaneous Retrieval as a Reflexive Associative Memory Process
Spontaneous Noticing
Summary
Chapter 4. Multiprocess Theory of Prospective Memory
An Advantage of the Multiprocess Theory
Multiprocess Theory
Parameters of the Ongoing Task
Parameters of Prospective Memory Cues
Importance of the Prospective Memory Task
Individual Differences and Intra-Individual Differences
Planning
Summary
5. Storage and Retention of Intended Actions
Goschke and Kuhl's Paradigm
Extending the Intention Superiority Effect
Retention of Intended Actions Over Time: Immune to Forgetting?
Retrieval of Intentions During the Retention Interval
Summary
6. Planning and Encoding of Intentions
Planning
Implementation Intentions
Individual Differences
Summary
7. Prospective Memory and Life Span Development
Prospective Memory in Children
Prospective Memory in Older Adults
Summary and Observations
8. Cognitive Neuroscience of Prospective Memory
The Neuropsychology of Prospective Memory
Neuroimaging and Prospective Memory
Event-Related Brain Potentials (ERPs)
Summary and Future Directions
9. Prospective Memory as it Applies to Work and Naturalistic Settings
General Recommendations for Improving Prospective Memory
An Analysis of a Prospective Memory Failure as Possible Interventions
Limitations of Generalizing to Applied and Natural Settings on the Basis of Existing Laboratory Experiments
Non-laboratory Methods for Investigating Prospective Memory
External Reminding Devices
Summary
10. Final Thoughts
