Implementation intentions have been shown to improve prospective memory performance among a variety of populations. In two studies, the effectiveness of implementation intentions was examined among young and older adults. In Experiment 1 64 young adults were placed into one of four instructional conditions (Read-Only, Imagery, Implementation Intention, Combined) before completing a laboratory-based prospective memory task. Results reveal that prospective memory performance improves under each of the three experimental conditions, but that there is no additional benefit of combining imagery with implementation intentions. In a novel finding, imagery alone produced improvements comparable to implementation intentions. Experiment 2 investigated the effect of implementation intentions among 32 older adults, who were characterized as possessing high- or low-frontal function based on neuropsychological test performance. Implementation intentions improved prospective memory among both groups, regardless of frontal function. The results of these studies suggest that implementation intentions can improve prospective memory among both young and older adults. Importantly, these findings reveal that imagery alone may be an effective means of improving prospective memory. Additionally, that implementation intentions improved prospective memory among older adults, regardless of frontal function, raises important questions about potential mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of implementation intentions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/201489 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | McFarland, Craig P. |
| Contributors | Glisky, Elizabeth L., Allen, John J.B., Kaszniak, Alfred W., Ryan, Lee, Glisky, Elizabeth L. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Dissertation |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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