Prospective memory and working memory in comparison. New experimental paradigms

Aim of the study: Prospective memory (PM) is a cognitive high load activity. Two main models showed the relation between working memory (WM) and PM. The preparatory attentional and memory processes model (PAM) posits an interdependence between WM and PM; while, the multiprocess framework assumes independence between these two functions. Materials and methods: With the aim to investigate this relation, two tasks were administered to a sample of 21 healthy participants. The first task (arithmetic) required low cognitive and WM load together with a prospective task, the second (PASAT) required high cognitive and WM load together with a prospective switching task. The prospective task included two modalities of administration: based on a sound cue (event-based) or at a given moment (time-based). Results: PM accuracy was influenced by WM only when paired to complex tasks that require high cognitive load on WM and active PM self-retrieval processes (time-PASAT). Conclusions: These results support partial independence between these two mechanisms.