Can Feedback Boost Prospective Memory Performance?

Prospective memory (PM) refers to remembering to perform intended actions in the future. Although there is ample evidence supporting the benefits of feedback for memory, it is unclear whether these benefits can be extended to the field of PM. Therefore, 2 experiments were conducted to investigate the role of feedback in PM. Experiment 1 compared PM performance in 3 feedback conditions (no feedback, ongoing task feedback, PM feedback). Experiment 2 further examined the effects of feedback valence (positive feedback or negative feedback) on PM performance under different task loads (task variability). Results suggested that providing feedback improved PM performance. The fluctuation of costs to PM during different feedback phases reflected the dynamically strategic monitoring for PM, especially in the PM feedback condition. Additionally, a significant PM performance difference between positive feedback and negative feedback in the invariable condition was observed. More importantly, only under the variable condition did the fluctuation of costs to PM task with positive feedback increase from the baseline phase to the second feedback phase. This finding indicated positive feedback promoted PM performance accompanied by more cognitive resources needed for strategic monitoring, and negative feedback boosted PM performance, relying on spontaneous retrieval independent of cognitive resources. Altogether, feedback boosted PM, and this benefit varies depending on the type of feedback and task variability. These results reflected a flexible change in PM processes and supported the dynamic multiprocess view of PM.