FUNCTIONS OF EXTERNAL CUES IN PROSPECTIVE MEMORY

A simulation of an air traffic control task was the setting for an inv estigation of the functions of external cues in prospective memory. Ex ternal cues can support the triggering of an action or memory for the content of the action. We focused on memory for the content, and manip ulated the temporal characteristics of the external cue to disentangle two possible functions the cue can support: (1) an external cue visib le during a retention interval could support rehearsal of the to-be-pe rformed action; (2) an external cue visible at the end of a retention interval could support retrieval of the to-be-performed action. Two ex periments were conducted that converge on the same conclusion: the pri mary function of an external cue is to support retrieval. Implications for the design of a computer interface to present prospective cues ar e discussed.