Effects of task characteristics and individual traits on the aftereffects of event-based prospective memory and its mechanism

Abstract

The phenomenon in which an individual repeatedly performs an already completed prospective memory (PM) intention (commission errors), or the completed intention interferes with the performance of the ongoing task are the aftereffects of PM. Based on the multiple processing theory of PM, a literature review revealed that task characteristics (PM task characteristics, ongoing task characteristics, task context) and individual traits modulate the aftereffects of event-based PM. Theoretical explanations for the processing mechanisms of the aftereffects of event-based PM include automatic, controlled, extractioninhibition, stop-tag, and dual processing, and dynamic multiprocess framework. Among these, automatic processing is subdivided into reflexive-associative and discrepancy-plus-search processing, while controlled processing can be divided into strategic monitoring and inhibition processing. The formation of aftereffects of event-based PM is more closely related to automatic and strategic monitoring processing, and the deactivation of such aftereffects is more dependent on inhibitory processing. The processing mechanisms of the aftereffects of event-based PM need to be explored in-depth. Furthermore, future research should increase the investigation of aftereffects of PM in different types as well as natural contexts, and focus on exploring strategies to reduce the aftereffects of PM.