Failure of Prospective Memory after Acquired Brain Damage: Preliminary Investigation and Suggestions for Future Directions

Abstract

This paper investigates the premise that the greater frequency of errors after acquired brain damage will facilitate identification of essential components of successful prospective memory. It examines performance by patients with recent acquired non-progressive brain damage and age-matched control subjects on two experimental measures of prospective memory. A significant different between patients and control subjects arises mainly from performance on a time-based prospective memory task. Results from patients on tests of time- and event-based prospective memory are compared with scores on tests of episodic memory and executive skills. A relationship is identified between event-based prospective memory and retrospective episodic memory but not between time-based prospective memory and executive skills. Premorbid intelligence and current mood state are identified as variables that should be considered when investigating prospective memory under experimental conditions.