WHAT BRINGS INTENTIONS TO MIND - AN IN-SITU STUDY OF PROSPECTIVE MEMORY

In a naturalistic study, we aimed to uncover the relationship between thinking about and remembering intentions. Electronic badges allowed u s to track the activities of subjects within their work environment. O ver two weeks, subjects were asked to respond using a button on their badges (1) every two hours (Time task); (2) whenever they were in a pa rticular room (Place task). In addition, whenever they thought about t he task, they were asked to indicate this with their badges. Although subjects thought about the Time task more, they forgot to respond more often than in the Place task. In the Time task, there was a marked ab sence of thoughts about the task following successful remembering. Whe n subjects remembered the Place task, thoughts increased with proximit y to the target location. In both tasks, thoughts about intentions occ urred more in places such as stairwells than in locations where people tended to settle. On the basis of these findings, possible mechanisms for prospective memory are discussed.