title: The effect of implementation intention on prospective memory: a systematic and meta-analytic review.
abstract: Prospective memory (PM) refers to remembering to perform a planned action at a future time. Implementation intention is an encoding method in the form of "if situation Y is encountered, then I will initiate the goal-directed behavior X". It has been applied to improve PM performances. The present study conducted a systematic and meta-analytic review on the effect and mechanism of implementation intention on PM. In the meta-analysis, 36 comparisons were included. The results showed that for healthy young adults, the overall effect of implementation intention in improving PM performances was significant with a medium effect size (d = 0.445). The combined verbal and imagery form of implementation intention had a relatively larger effect size (d = 0.590). For older adults, implementation intention had a medium to large effect size on their PM performances (d = 0.680). As for the mechanism, implementation intention seemed to reduce ongoing task performances in young adults as reflected by longer reaction time (d = 0.224) though the effect size was small. The present study supports the positive effect of implementation intention on PM. The mechanism and potential implications of this promising strategy especially for clinical/sub-clinical people are discussed.
authors: Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Xing-jie
authors: XJ
authors: Chen
authors: Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: wangyazsu@gmail.com.
authors: Ya
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Lu-lu
authors: LL
authors: Liu
authors: Information Center, National Institute of Education Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Ji-fang
authors: JF
authors: Cui
authors: Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Ming-yuan
authors: MY
authors: Gan
authors: Behavioural Basis of Health Program, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors: David H K
authors: DH
authors: Shum
authors: Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Raymond C K
authors: RC
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D033182:Intention; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Clinical samples; Implementation intention; Meta-analysis; Prospective memory