Event-related neural activity associated with prospective remembering

This article reviews the findings of recent work investigating the neural correlates of prospective remembering conducted within the context of the noticing + search model using event-related brain potentials (ERPs). The presentation of a PM cue was associated with a phasic negativity (N320)-whose topography may be modulated by the nature of the cue - and two sustained modulations of the ERPs. The first of these modulations reflected a parietal positivity-right frontal negativity that differentiated PM cue trials from ongoing activity trials independent of whether or not a prospective response was made. The second of these modulations reflected a frontal-central positivity that differentiated PM cue trials which elicited a prospective response from PM cue trials that failed to elicit a prospective response and ongoing activity trials. Together these findings indicate that successful prospective remembering arises from the activity of distinct neural processes that may support detection of the PM cue, recovery of the intention from memory, and the timely realization of the intention. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.