BACKGROUND: Prospective memory difficulties are one of the most common deficits following acquired brain injury. The application of smartphones as a compensatory aid to these difficulties has shown promising results. This study looked to investigate these benefits further. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate whether receipt of reminder prompts through ones smartphone improved completion of pre-planned tasks, in addition to whether it also had secondary implications for participant's wellbeing, confidence, independent functioning, and whether it had any impact on caregiver strain levels. METHOD: This study used an ABAB case series design with mild to moderate acquired brain injury. Task completion rates were monitored across four phases (prompts vs. no prompts). Quantitative questionnaires were administered pre, post and at three months follow up to assess coping with memory difficulties. A qualitative questionnaire explored the perceived impact of the smartphone reminders on everyday functioning, in addition to a 3 month follow up measure assessing attrition rates in smartphone use. RESULTS: Visual inspection analysis suggested greater task completion when reminders were provided. The quantitative questionnaires showed increased use of a Smartphone as reminder device post intervention and at follow up. A basic thematic analysis highlighted a perception that the smartphone system increased task completion, confidence in coping with memory demands, supported emotional wellbeing and reduced dependence on others. As a memory aid it was also less stigmatising and promoted dignity. The three month follow up questionnaire highlighted that all participants continued to use their smartphone as a memory aid. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a smartphone as a memory compensation aid may improve completion of pre-set tasks. Secondary benefits may include increased confidence in coping with memory demands, reduced dependence on others for help, and reduced anxiety or frustration around forgetting.

O estudo do auto-relato de falhas de memória pode colaborar para o campo de investigação da qualidade de vida e de perda de memória, principalmente entre idosos. Sendo que percepção de auto-eficácia de memória é relacionada à capacidade de memória, questionou-se quais seriam as associações entre autoeficácia geral e o auto-relato de falhas de memória geral, prospectiva e retrospectiva a partir de dois estudos. O primeiro apresenta a tradução, adaptação e validação para o português do Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) (Smith e cols., 2000). A amostra constou de 642 participantes com idade entre 16 e 81 anos (26,62±13,89). Análises fatoriais apontaram que dos 16 itens do PRMQ, somente oito apresentaram validade de construto. Após a adição de dois itens divididos, obteve-se a validade convergente e discriminante em uma amostra de 38 participantes com idade entre 60 e 81 anos (69,03±5,28). O PRMQ-10 é apresentado como válido e fidedigno na sua composição reduzida, com cinco itens para cada uma das escalas: prospectiva e retrospectiva. Para o segundo estudo, foram investigadas as relações entre o autorelato de falhas de memória (prospectiva e retrospectiva), com auto-eficácia geral, idade, escolaridade e sexo. Os participantes foram os mesmos do primeiro estudo. Análises de regressão hierárquica e de covariância revelaram que o auto-relato de falhas de memória prospectiva está mais fortemente associado à auto-eficácia geral. Contrariamente, o auto-relato de falhas de memória retrospectiva apresentou maior associação com escolaridade e idade. São discutidos pontos de reciprocidade entre o auto-relato de falhas de memória e avaliações de desempenho de memória. / Studies concerning self-reported memory failures can contribute to investigations about quality of life field and memory loss, mainly among elders. Once general self-efficacy has been indicated as an intervenient factor in memory tasks, it was aimed to investigate the association between general self-efficacy and self-report of general, prospective and retrospective memory failures. The first study presents the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) (Smith e cols., 2000) translation into Portuguese and psychometric validation. The sample was 642 participants aged between 16 and 81 years old (26,62±13,89). Factorial analysis showed construct validity of eight in 16 items. Two divided items were added to the retrospective factor, and convergent and concurrent validity were established in a sample of 38 participants aged between 60 and 81 years old (69,03±5,28). Thus, the Portuguese version of PRMQ showed validity and confidence with 10 items, five on each scale: prospective and retrospective. In the second study, performed with the same sample, are presented relations among self-reported memory failures (prospective and retrospective), general selfefficacy, age, years of formal education and gender. Analysis of hierarchical regression and covariance revealed a strong association between self-reported prospective memory failures and general self-efficacy. By contrast, the selfreported retrospective memory failures showed a strong association with years of education and age. As a further result, reciprocity between memory complaints and experimental results in memory tasks is discussed.

O estudo do auto-relato de falhas de memória pode colaborar para o campo de investigação da qualidade de vida e de perda de memória, principalmente entre idosos. Sendo que percepção de auto-eficácia de memória é relacionada à capacidade de memória, questionou-se quais seriam as associações entre autoeficácia geral e o auto-relato de falhas de memória geral, prospectiva e retrospectiva a partir de dois estudos. O primeiro apresenta a tradução, adaptação e validação para o português do Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) (Smith e cols., 2000). A amostra constou de 642 participantes com idade entre 16 e 81 anos (26,62±13,89). Análises fatoriais apontaram que dos 16 itens do PRMQ, somente oito apresentaram validade de construto. Após a adição de dois itens divididos, obteve-se a validade convergente e discriminante em uma amostra de 38 participantes com idade entre 60 e 81 anos (69,03±5,28). O PRMQ-10 é apresentado como válido e fidedigno na sua composição reduzida, com cinco itens para cada uma das escalas: prospectiva e retrospectiva. Para o segundo estudo, foram investigadas as relações entre o autorelato de falhas de memória (prospectiva e retrospectiva), com auto-eficácia geral, idade, escolaridade e sexo. Os participantes foram os mesmos do primeiro estudo. Análises de regressão hierárquica e de covariância revelaram que o auto-relato de falhas de memória prospectiva está mais fortemente associado à auto-eficácia geral. Contrariamente, o auto-relato de falhas de memória retrospectiva apresentou maior associação com escolaridade e idade. São discutidos pontos de reciprocidade entre o auto-relato de falhas de memória e avaliações de desempenho de memória. / Studies concerning self-reported memory failures can contribute to investigations about quality of life field and memory loss, mainly among elders. Once general self-efficacy has been indicated as an intervenient factor in memory tasks, it was aimed to investigate the association between general self-efficacy and self-report of general, prospective and retrospective memory failures. The first study presents the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) (Smith e cols., 2000) translation into Portuguese and psychometric validation. The sample was 642 participants aged between 16 and 81 years old (26,62±13,89). Factorial analysis showed construct validity of eight in 16 items. Two divided items were added to the retrospective factor, and convergent and concurrent validity were established in a sample of 38 participants aged between 60 and 81 years old (69,03±5,28). Thus, the Portuguese version of PRMQ showed validity and confidence with 10 items, five on each scale: prospective and retrospective. In the second study, performed with the same sample, are presented relations among self-reported memory failures (prospective and retrospective), general selfefficacy, age, years of formal education and gender. Analysis of hierarchical regression and covariance revealed a strong association between self-reported prospective memory failures and general self-efficacy. By contrast, the selfreported retrospective memory failures showed a strong association with years of education and age. As a further result, reciprocity between memory complaints and experimental results in memory tasks is discussed.

O estudo do auto-relato de falhas de memória pode colaborar para o campo de investigação da qualidade de vida e de perda de memória, principalmente entre idosos. Sendo que percepção de auto-eficácia de memória é relacionada à capacidade de memória, questionou-se quais seriam as associações entre autoeficácia geral e o auto-relato de falhas de memória geral, prospectiva e retrospectiva a partir de dois estudos. O primeiro apresenta a tradução, adaptação e validação para o português do Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) (Smith e cols., 2000). A amostra constou de 642 participantes com idade entre 16 e 81 anos (26,62±13,89). Análises fatoriais apontaram que dos 16 itens do PRMQ, somente oito apresentaram validade de construto. Após a adição de dois itens divididos, obteve-se a validade convergente e discriminante em uma amostra de 38 participantes com idade entre 60 e 81 anos (69,03±5,28). O PRMQ-10 é apresentado como válido e fidedigno na sua composição reduzida, com cinco itens para cada uma das escalas: prospectiva e retrospectiva. Para o segundo estudo, foram investigadas as relações entre o autorelato de falhas de memória (prospectiva e retrospectiva), com auto-eficácia geral, idade, escolaridade e sexo. Os participantes foram os mesmos do primeiro estudo. Análises de regressão hierárquica e de covariância revelaram que o auto-relato de falhas de memória prospectiva está mais fortemente associado à auto-eficácia geral. Contrariamente, o auto-relato de falhas de memória retrospectiva apresentou maior associação com escolaridade e idade. São discutidos pontos de reciprocidade entre o auto-relato de falhas de memória e avaliações de desempenho de memória. / Studies concerning self-reported memory failures can contribute to investigations about quality of life field and memory loss, mainly among elders. Once general self-efficacy has been indicated as an intervenient factor in memory tasks, it was aimed to investigate the association between general self-efficacy and self-report of general, prospective and retrospective memory failures. The first study presents the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) (Smith e cols., 2000) translation into Portuguese and psychometric validation. The sample was 642 participants aged between 16 and 81 years old (26,62±13,89). Factorial analysis showed construct validity of eight in 16 items. Two divided items were added to the retrospective factor, and convergent and concurrent validity were established in a sample of 38 participants aged between 60 and 81 years old (69,03±5,28). Thus, the Portuguese version of PRMQ showed validity and confidence with 10 items, five on each scale: prospective and retrospective. In the second study, performed with the same sample, are presented relations among self-reported memory failures (prospective and retrospective), general selfefficacy, age, years of formal education and gender. Analysis of hierarchical regression and covariance revealed a strong association between self-reported prospective memory failures and general self-efficacy. By contrast, the selfreported retrospective memory failures showed a strong association with years of education and age. As a further result, reciprocity between memory complaints and experimental results in memory tasks is discussed.

La mémoire prospective (MP) est la capacité de se souvenir d’exécuter une action dans le futur. La MP se distingue de la mémoire rétrospective (MR) notamment par le fait que la récupération du souvenir doit être auto-initiée alors qu’on est occupé par une autre tâche. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de mieux comprendre la communauté et la spécificité des processus mnésiques et de contrôle impliqués dans les situations de MP par rapport aux situations de MR comme une tâche de reconnaissance. La démarche est d’imbriquer une action planifiée dans des tâches dont la demande mnésique et la difficulté sont contrôlées. Nous étudions ainsi l’interférence réciproque entre la MP et la MR. Nous étudions également les stratégies de maintien en fonction de la présence ou non d’un indice d’exécution. Les données comportementales montrent que l’action est exécutée plus rapidement sans indice d’exécution qu’avec indice, ce qui suggère un maintien actif sans indice. La MR interfère avec les performances de MP. Les mesures du modèle DPSD de la MR montrent qu’imbriquer une action planifiée dans une tâche de reconnaissance module le contrôle de la décision de reconnaissance et que le maintien actif interfère avec la familiarité. Enfin les résultats électrophysiologiques montrent une positivité pariétale modulée à la fois par la récupération d’une action planifiée et par une tâche classique de reconnaissance. Ces résultats suggèrent 1) une communauté des processus mnésiques en MP et en MR, mais 2) qu’être dans un mode de fonctionnement plus contrôlé est une spécificité de la MP, et que 3) le maintien actif est une caractéristique importante de la MP. / Prospective memory (PM) refers to the ability to remember to perform an action at some point in the future. Prospective memory is distinct from retrospective memory (RM) particularly because retrieval of the memory must be self-initiated while being engaged in an ongoing task. The main goal of this thesis was to better understand shared and specific memory and control processes involved in PM situations compared to RM situations (e.g., a recognition task). Our approach was to use tasks whose memory demand and difficulty were controlled and in which an intended action was embodied. This allows to study the mutual interference between PM and RM. We also studied maintenance strategies while manipulating the presence of an execution cue. Behavioural data showed that execution of the intended action was faster without than with a cue: this suggests active maintenance without an execution cue. RM interferes with PM performance. Measurements of the DPSD model showed that the embodiment of an intended action in a recognition task influences the control of the recognition decision, and that active maintenance interferes with familiarity. Finally, electrophysiological data show a parietal positivity modulated by the retrieval of an intended action and by a recognition task. These results support the idea that 1) PM and RM share common memory processes, but 2) that PM specifically forces a more controlled operating mode, and that 3) active maintenance is an important characteristic of PM.

Time Perspective (TP) describes the attitude individuals have towards the past, present, and future. This study investigated the associations between TP and self-reported everyday prospective and retrospective memory problems, controlling for stress. Ninety-five participants (18-60 years) completed an online survey which included the Swedish Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (S-ZTPI), the Prospective Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that Past Negative, Present Fatalistic, and Future Negative views were associated with more self-reported prospective and retrospective memory problems. Moreover, a Future Positive view was associated with better prospective memory scores. TP biases were assessed using the Deviations From a Balanced Time Perspective measure (DBTP). Hierarchal regression analyses revealed that DBTP accounted for almost 30% of the variance in prospective memory scores and for 25% of the variance in retrospective memory scores, beyond stress. Taken together, the results show a significant link between TP and self-reported everyday memory problems. Future studies should take other variables such as depression, anxiety, mood, and personality into account to shed further light on the association between TP and everyday memory problems. Regarding practical implications, interventions that are aimed at promoting a balanced TP might be used to enhance everyday memory ability. / Tidsperspektiv (TP) beskriver attityden individer har till det förflutna, nuet och framtiden. Denna studie undersökte sambanden mellan TP och självrapporterade vardagliga prospektiva och retrospektiva minnesproblem, som kontrollerat för stress. Nittiofem deltagare (18-60 år) fyllde i en onlineenkät som inkluderade Swedish Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (S-ZTPI), Prospective Retrospective Memory Questionnaire och 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Bivariat korrelationsanalys avslöjade att tidigare negativa, nuvarande fatalistiska och framtida negativa åsikter var associerade med mer självrapporterade prospektivt och retrospektivt minnesproblem. Dessutom var en framtidspositiv syn förknippad med bättre prospektivt minnespoäng. TP-biaser utvärderades med hjälp av måttet Deviations From a Balanced Time Perspective (DBTP). Hierarkiska regressionsanalyser visade att DBTP stod för nästan 30 % av variansen i prospektiva minnespoäng och för 25 % av variansen i retrospektiva minnespoäng, bortom stress. Sammantaget visar resultaten ett signifikant samband mellan TP och självrapporterade vardagsminnesproblem. Framtida studier bör ta hänsyn till andra variabler som depression, ångest, humör och personlighet för att ytterligare belysa sambandet mellan TP och vardagsminnesproblem. När det gäller praktiska implikationer kan interventioner som syftar till att främja en balanserad TP användas för att förbättra vardagsminnesförmågan.

Introdução: A memória prospectiva (MP) refere-se a um conjunto de habilidades cognitivas que permitem lembrar-se de uma intenção a desempenhar no futuro, no momento adequado. Essa função é pouco avaliada em baterias neuropsicológicas que avaliam pessoas com epilepsia. Objetivo: Estudamos o impacto da cirurgia para epilepsia sobre a MP, componente prospectivo, em pessoas submetidas a lobectomia temporal unilateral para controle de epilepsia refratária ao tratamento clínico. Métodos: Comparamos o desempenho de MP em pessoas com epilepsia associada à esclerose mesial temporal à esquerda (EMTE) ou direita (EMTD) com dois grupos controles. Um grupo foi composto por indivíduos sem epilepsia (controles normais), e o outro por pessoas com epilepsia secundária à EMT, submetidos a avaliação e reavaliação neuropsicológica, sem intervenção cirúrgica (grupo clínico para controle teste/reteste). Resultados: Avaliamos 42 indivíduos sem epilepsia, 20 do grupo clínico (controle teste/reteste) e 39 do grupo cirúrgico (pré e pósoperatório). Comparamos o desempenho entre grupos e também a variação de desempenho individual, pelo índice de mudança confiável. Os grupos não diferiram em idade, escolaridade e quociente de inteligência. Na avaliação inicial, observou-se rebaixamento no desempenho em MP nos grupos clínico e cirúrgico (p < 0,01) (efeito lesão), sem diferença entre os grupos EMTE ou EMTD (efeito lateralidade). Para o grupo cirúrgico, observamos acentuada (p < 0,01) redução de crises e leve, porém significativa, redução de carga de drogas antiepilépticas pós-operatória. Observamos estabilidade em reteste de MP, declínio de memória verbal para o grupo EMTE e estabilidade de memória verbal e visual para o grupo EMTD. Conclusão: Embora exista um sistema de evocação compartilhado entre a MP e a memória episódica, a ressecção de estruturas temporais mesiais acometidas patologicamente não provoca declínio adicional em MP, mesmo quando se observou declínio de memória verbal no grupo EMTE. O comportamento dissociado de declínio de memória verbal para o grupo EMTE e preservação de MP após cirurgia de epilepsia sugere diferentes papeis das estruturas temporais mesiais nestes sistemas de memória. O papel do acometimento de estruturas extratemporais e de estruturas temporais não mesiais na MP em pacientes com EMT deverá ser melhor elucidado em estudos futuros / Introduction: Prospective memory (PM) refers to a set of cognitive abilities that allow recall of a previous intention to perform in the future, in the appropriate setting. This function is not usually evaluated in neuropsychological batteries used to evaluate people with epilepsy. Objective: We evaluated the impact of epilepsy surgery on the prospective component of PM, in people undergoing unilateral temporal lobectomy to treat medically refractory epilepsy. Methods: We compared performance in PM in people with left or right mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) in the pre and postoperative periods with that of two control groups. One group was composed of people without epilepsy (normal controls), and another group was composed of people with epilepsy associated with mesial temporal sclerosis that underwent neuropsychological testing and retesting without undergoing surgery (clinical test/retest control group). Results: We studied 42 people without epilepsy, 20 clinical controls (test/retest group), and 39 patients that underwent epilepsy surgery (pre and postoperative testing). We compared groups performances and changes in individual performances with the reliable change index. Groups did not differ in age, education, and intelligence quotient. We found decreased preoperative PM performance for the clinical and surgical groups (p < 0.01) (lesion effect), without a difference between right and left groups (laterality effect). Postoperatively, there was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in number of seizures, a small, but significant reduction in antiepileptic drug load, stable prospective memory, verbal and visual memory for right mesial temporal sclerosis, and decreased verbal memory in the left mesial temporal sclerosis group. Conclusion: In spite of a shared evocation system for episodic and prospective memory, resection of pathologically involved mesial temporal structures does not impact on prospective memory performance, even in the setting verbal memory decline in the left MTS group.The finding of dissociated verbal memory decline and PM stability after epilepsy surgery suggests a different role of mesial temporal lobe structures in these memory systems. The role of extratemporal and nonmesial temporal lobe structures in prospective memory in MTS patients should be evaluated in future studies

This study examined the short term memory (STM) difference of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologists versus non-MRI technologists. Human and animal studies have indicated that residual magnetic fields have caused changes within the cerebral structure. Research on residual magnetic fields and their effect on STM is still at its infancy. A quasi-experimental design was used to determine if any significant difference existed between the STM of MRI technologists (n = x) and a control population sample (n = x). The STM of both groups was assessed with the use of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test-Third Edition. Solicitation of the participants was from a national MRI organization, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and community workers within the profession. The control group of participants was solicited through community board postings. Only the New York/New Jersey metro area and the New Hampshire/Maine area participants were used for this study. These participants were of various age ranges, genders, and educational levels. ANOVA and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. The study showed mixed results, indicating no significant STM difference in the overall memory scores of both groups F (1, 80) =3.061, p =..084, but it did show a significant difference in STM when it came to prospective memory, memory of planned events. These findings illustrate a need for further research in this area. Expanding the geographical reach and sample size could clarify the role of MRI on STM. The results of this study suggest that procedures that limit the exposure of the MRI technologists to the residual magnetic fields surrounding MRI machines could yield a reduction in loss of prospective memory.

Introdução: A memória prospectiva (MP) refere-se a um conjunto de habilidades cognitivas que permitem lembrar-se de uma intenção a desempenhar no futuro, no momento adequado. Essa função é pouco avaliada em baterias neuropsicológicas que avaliam pessoas com epilepsia. Objetivo: Estudamos o impacto da cirurgia para epilepsia sobre a MP, componente prospectivo, em pessoas submetidas a lobectomia temporal unilateral para controle de epilepsia refratária ao tratamento clínico. Métodos: Comparamos o desempenho de MP em pessoas com epilepsia associada à esclerose mesial temporal à esquerda (EMTE) ou direita (EMTD) com dois grupos controles. Um grupo foi composto por indivíduos sem epilepsia (controles normais), e o outro por pessoas com epilepsia secundária à EMT, submetidos a avaliação e reavaliação neuropsicológica, sem intervenção cirúrgica (grupo clínico para controle teste/reteste). Resultados: Avaliamos 42 indivíduos sem epilepsia, 20 do grupo clínico (controle teste/reteste) e 39 do grupo cirúrgico (pré e pósoperatório). Comparamos o desempenho entre grupos e também a variação de desempenho individual, pelo índice de mudança confiável. Os grupos não diferiram em idade, escolaridade e quociente de inteligência. Na avaliação inicial, observou-se rebaixamento no desempenho em MP nos grupos clínico e cirúrgico (p < 0,01) (efeito lesão), sem diferença entre os grupos EMTE ou EMTD (efeito lateralidade). Para o grupo cirúrgico, observamos acentuada (p < 0,01) redução de crises e leve, porém significativa, redução de carga de drogas antiepilépticas pós-operatória. Observamos estabilidade em reteste de MP, declínio de memória verbal para o grupo EMTE e estabilidade de memória verbal e visual para o grupo EMTD. Conclusão: Embora exista um sistema de evocação compartilhado entre a MP e a memória episódica, a ressecção de estruturas temporais mesiais acometidas patologicamente não provoca declínio adicional em MP, mesmo quando se observou declínio de memória verbal no grupo EMTE. O comportamento dissociado de declínio de memória verbal para o grupo EMTE e preservação de MP após cirurgia de epilepsia sugere diferentes papeis das estruturas temporais mesiais nestes sistemas de memória. O papel do acometimento de estruturas extratemporais e de estruturas temporais não mesiais na MP em pacientes com EMT deverá ser melhor elucidado em estudos futuros / Introduction: Prospective memory (PM) refers to a set of cognitive abilities that allow recall of a previous intention to perform in the future, in the appropriate setting. This function is not usually evaluated in neuropsychological batteries used to evaluate people with epilepsy. Objective: We evaluated the impact of epilepsy surgery on the prospective component of PM, in people undergoing unilateral temporal lobectomy to treat medically refractory epilepsy. Methods: We compared performance in PM in people with left or right mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) in the pre and postoperative periods with that of two control groups. One group was composed of people without epilepsy (normal controls), and another group was composed of people with epilepsy associated with mesial temporal sclerosis that underwent neuropsychological testing and retesting without undergoing surgery (clinical test/retest control group). Results: We studied 42 people without epilepsy, 20 clinical controls (test/retest group), and 39 patients that underwent epilepsy surgery (pre and postoperative testing). We compared groups performances and changes in individual performances with the reliable change index. Groups did not differ in age, education, and intelligence quotient. We found decreased preoperative PM performance for the clinical and surgical groups (p < 0.01) (lesion effect), without a difference between right and left groups (laterality effect). Postoperatively, there was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in number of seizures, a small, but significant reduction in antiepileptic drug load, stable prospective memory, verbal and visual memory for right mesial temporal sclerosis, and decreased verbal memory in the left mesial temporal sclerosis group. Conclusion: In spite of a shared evocation system for episodic and prospective memory, resection of pathologically involved mesial temporal structures does not impact on prospective memory performance, even in the setting verbal memory decline in the left MTS group.The finding of dissociated verbal memory decline and PM stability after epilepsy surgery suggests a different role of mesial temporal lobe structures in these memory systems. The role of extratemporal and nonmesial temporal lobe structures in prospective memory in MTS patients should be evaluated in future studies

From the simple act of picking up a glass of water while talking to someone at a party, to remembering to swing by the bike shop to pick up an inner tube while riding through traffic on our way home from the office, intentions guide and alter our behavior—often while we are busily engaged in other ongoing tasks. Particularly, performing delayed intentions, like stopping at the bike shop on our way home, relies on a set of cognitive processes summarized as prospective memory (PM) that enable us to postpone intended actions until a later point in time (time-based PM) or until specific reminders or PM cues signal the appropriate opportunity to retrieve and perform an intended action (event-based PM). Interestingly, over the past decades a growing number of studies showed that successfully completing an event-based intention does not necessarily lead to its immediate deactivation. Instead, no-longer-relevant PM cues can incur so-called aftereffects that impair task performance and sometimes even trigger erroneous repetitions of the intended action (i.e., commission errors). Although in our everyday lifes we frequently rely on both PM and intention deactivation, still relatively little is known about how our cognitive system actually manages to deactivate completed intentions, under which conditions this may fail, and how well PM and intention deactivation function under extreme conditions, like acute stress. In order to answer these questions, I first conducted a comprehensive review of the published literature on aftereffects of completed intentions. Here, I found that although intentions can incur aftereffects in terms of commission errors and performance costs that most likely result from continued intention retrieval, they generally seem to be deactivated or even inhibited at some point. Most importantly, this deactivation process does not operate like a light switch but dynamically moves along a continuum from complete reactivation to complete deactivation of intentions, and is substantially modulated by factors that also affect retrieval of intentions prior to their completion. Specifically, intention deactivation is most likely to fail when we remain within the same context in which we originally completed the intention and encounter no-longer-relevant PM cues that are extremely salient and were strongly linked to the intended action. Subsequently, in Study 1 I directly tested a dual-mechanisms account of aftereffects of completed intentions. Building on findings of impaired intention deactivation in older adults who often show deficits in cognitive-control abilities, this account posits that aftereffects and commission errors in particular stem from a failure to exert cognitive control when no-longer-relevant PM cues trigger retrieval of an intention. Accordingly, intention deactivation should hinge on the availability of cognitive-control resources at the moment we encounter no-longer-relevant PM cues. In order to test this, I assessed aftereffects of completed intentions in younger and older adults while manipulating transient demands on information processing during encounters of no-longer-relevant PM cues on a trial-by-trial basis. In Experiment 1, nominally more older adults than younger adults made a commission error. Additionally, medium demands on cognitive control substantially reduced aftereffects compared to low and high demands (i.e., u-shaped relation). In Experiment 2, which extended this manipulation but only tested younger adults, however, this control-demand effect did not replicate. Instead, aftereffects occurred regardless of cognitive-control demands. The lack of a consistent control-demand effect on aftereffects across two experiments, suggested that cognitive control either only plays a minor role for the occurrence of aftereffects or that, more likely, intention deactivation hinges on other specific cognitive-control abilities, like response inhibition. In two subsequent studies, I extended this research and tested the effects of acute stress—a potent modulator of cognitive-control functioning—on PM and intention deactivation. Previous studies showed that, under moderate demands, acute stress had no effect on PM-cue detection, intention deactivation or performance costs that presumably arise from monitoring for PM cues. Importantly, however, based on these studies it remained unclear if acute stress affects PM and intention deactivation under high demands, as has been observed, for instance, with working-memory performance. To test such a potential demand-dependence of acute stress effects on PM, I first assessed the effects of psychosocial stress induction with the Trier Social Stress Test on PM and intention deactivation when detecting PM cues and intention deactivation were either low or high demanding (Study 2). Building on this work, I then tested the effects of combined physiological and psychosocial stress induction with the Maastricht Acute Stress Test on PM and the ability to track one’s own performance (i.e., output monitoring), when PM-cue detection was difficult and ongoing tasks additionally posed either low or high demands on working memory (Study 3). Despite successful stress induction (e.g., increased levels of salivary cortisol and impaired subjective mood), both studies showed that PM-cue detection and intention retrieval were not affected by acute stress under any of these conditions. Study 2 revealed a tendency for a higher risk of making commission errors under stress when no-longer-relevant PM cues were salient and difficult to ignore. Study 3 additionally showed that acute stress had no effect on output monitoring. Most importantly, however, across the different PM tasks and stress-induction protocols in these studies, acute stress substantially reduced performance costs from monitoring for PM cues, but did so only when PM-cue detection was difficult. This effect suggested that, depending on task demands, acute stress might shift retrieval processes in PM away from costly monitoring-based retrieval towards a more economic spontaneous retrieval of intended actions. In summary, the present thesis suggests that the processes underlying prospective remembering and intention deactivation are tightly woven together and are only selectively affected by cognitive-control availability and effects of acute stress. With this, it contributed substantially to our understanding of these essential cognitive capacities and their reliability. My research showed that PM is remarkably resilient against effects of acute stress experiences when remembering intended actions is supported by external reminders. Acute stress may actually make monitoring for such reminders more efficient when they are hard to detect. Additionally, it showed that, in most circumstances, we seem to be able to successfully and quickly deactivate intentions once they are completed. It is only under some conditions that intention deactivation may be slow, sporadic or fail, which can lead to continued retrieval of completed intentions. While this seems not to be affected by transient demands on information processing during encounters of no-longer-relevant PM cues, intention deactivation might become difficult for older adults and stressed individuals when no-longer-relevant reminders of intentions easily trigger the associated action and are hard to ignore.