Prospective Memory: An Overview and Synthesis of an Emerging Field

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.

Table of Contents:
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