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Is working memory necessary for implementation intentions to enhance prospective memory in older adults with cognitive problems?

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: tImplementation intentions are an effective strategy for improving prospective memory in older adults.However, their efficacy has never been assessed in older individuals with cognitive problems (i.e., indi-viduals with subjective memory complaints or objective memory impairments). Furthermore, althoughmost authors consider implementation intentions to depend on automatic processes, some studies haveshown the necessity of residual preserved controlled processes for implementation intentions to beefficient. We examined the efficacy of implementation intentions in prospective memory in 45 olderparticipants consulting a memory clinic. Half of the participants were instructed to form an implemen-tation intention, the other half receiving standard instructions. Analyses showed that working memorymoderated the efficacy of implementation intentions, which were efficient only in individuals with bet-ter working memory. These results corroborate the claim that a minimal level of cognitive resources isrequired for the technique, although implementation intentions might depend principally on automaticprocesses.

Source: Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition

DOI: 10.1016/j.jarmac.2014.01.004

Authors: Christina Burkard, Lucien Rochat, Anne-Claude Juillerat Van der Linden, Gabriel Gold, Martial Van der Linden

Institutions: University of Geneva, University Hospital of Geneva, University of Liège

Language: English

Topic: Cognitive Functions and Memory

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung