The Effect Of Cue Typicality On Event-based Prospective Memory

This article systematically introduced prospective memory's concept, natures, methods as well as theoretical models. The cue as an important factor affecting prospective memory is the focus of the study, Previous studies showed that cue specificity can improve prospective memory (PM) performance. However, cue specificity researches mostly focused on word frequency and physical characteristics, while very little research on the semantic features. In this research, we explored the influence of semantic features, the physical characteristics'on PM by using DRM materials ( lists of pairs of words highly related semantic material).150 college students were recruited in this study, used three experiments to discuss material type, perceptual differences and generality's impact on PM. In experiment 1, we used type of material (DRM paradigm of material, common material) single-factor, two-level to examine different materials on PM. The results showed that, comparing to common material, DRM material had no influence on PM, But it significantly shortened the PM response time (RT), indicating that DRM material's RT advantage. Experiment 2 used 2 (material type)×2 (perceived differential) to further examine cue's different characteristics on PM, the results show that the material type had significant influence on the PM RT, just as exp 1 conclusions, perceptual differences can significantly impact PM and improve subjects'PM performance. Comparison of common materials, and no difference group, perceptual differences group shortened PM RT. Under perception conditions, different materials had almost the same RT, Thus, physical characteristics of perceptual difference covered the DRM RT advantage. The third experiment used 2 (material type)×2 (generality) design to examine cues specificity on PM under different material condition, the results showed that the type of material had significant influence on PM RT, and also verified the above two experiments'conclusion, generality had significant influence on PM under general conditions, PM performance was significantly improved, as well as the accuracy, almost perfect performance, but had no influence on RT. In general conditions, DRM RT advantage disappeared. Three experimental results show that: (1) the physical characteristics of target cues can affect PM, the semantic features does not affect the PM; (2) DRM material can activate the semantic network by shortening the PM RT, perceptual difference can reduce the RT too, but the reaction was still longer than the DRM materials group, we can see from attention + search model, the search phase does exist automatic processing. (3) DRM material's RT advantage is implicit, where external factors such as perceived difference and generality can make the advantage disappeared.