The Processing Mechanism Of Prospective Memory: An Eye Tracking Study

This study was based on the dual-task paradigm. According to controlling taskwith instructions we can get the performance of current task and prospective task. Incurrent study we used eye tracking methodology in combination with dual-taskparadigm and instructions to explore the processing mechanisms underlyingprospective memory.In the task individuals searched and calculated the number of pictures which wasmatch with the previous word, and made prospective responses to the picture whichembedded a musical notes. In the experiment one, individuals completed single-taskand dual-task relied on different instructions, though in actual fact the prospective cuenever came up, the result showed that the response time for single-task was longerthan dual-task, the eye tracking data revealed that both first and total fixationdurations increased from single-task to dual-task when the prospective cues was notappeared, it can be concluded that the current performance reduced even though theprospective cue never came up, there was a need of resources while performingprospective memory. In the experiment two, the result showed that the prospectivehits were less frequent when the ongoing task was emphasized, the eye tracking datarevealed that both fixation counts and fixation durations on prospective cues increasedwhen the ongoing task was emphasized, it can be concluded that prospectiveperformance reduced while the current task was emphasized. In the experiment three,the result showed that the prospective hits were more frequent when the prospectivetask was emphasized, the eye tracking data revealed that both fixation counts andfixation durations on prospective cues decreased when the prospective task wasemphasized, in addition the pupil diameter largened and backsight was more frequent when the prospective task was emphasized. These results suggested that the cognitiveresources was controlled by a specific processing strategy.These ifndings suggested that there is a trade-off between prospective memoryand ongoing task and a need of resources while performing prospective task,prospective memory needs strategic control processing. Eye tracking is low in latencyand able to provide insights into the ongoing dynamics of processing, it demonstratesthe utility of eye tracking methods in exploring the processes underlying prospectivememory.