Implementation intentions and prospective memory among older adults: An investigation of the role of frontal lobe function

ABSTRACT

Prospective memory (PM) among older adults has been shown to be influenced by frontal lobe (FL) function. An implementation intention (e.g., ‘if situation X occurs, I will do Y’) is a mnemonic strategy that may be particularly beneficial for individuals with low-FL function, as it has been suggested that implementation intentions produce heightened accessibility to environmental cues, and automatic triggering of previously formed intentions. The present study investigated the effectiveness of implementation intentions among 32 older adults characterized as possessing high- or low-FL function. Participants were placed into one of two conditions: Read-Only or Implementation Intentions, before being tested on a laboratory prospective memory task. Results indicated that older adults with high-FL composite scores demonstrated better PM than those with low-FL scores, and that those who made implementation intentions outperformed those who simply read task instructions. Of particular interest is the finding that high-FL participants benefited from implementation intentions, suggesting that implementation intentions may improve PM of all older adults regardless of FL function. Theoretical underpinnings of implementation intentions are discussed in the context of FL function.

Keywords:

• Aging
• Prospective memory
• Frontal lobe function
• Implementation intentions
• Executive function

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Institute on Aging Grant AG14792 as well as by a grant from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Institute at the University of Arizona. We would like to thank Drs John Allen, Al Kaszniak, and Lee Ryan for their insight and assistance with this project. We would also like to thank Alex Ayala for testing participants.