A Break in Motor Fluency Enhances Prospective Memory, Particularly for Older Adults

Authors: Brouillet D*

DOI: 10.23880/pprij-16000291

Volume 6, Issue 3

Abstract

The discrepancy plus search mechanism is one of the explanatory mechanisms of the spontaneous recall of an action that one had to do. We have implemented this mechanism via a break in the motor simulations. Participants (young adults, middleage, older) showed images of objects that induced either a precision grip (i.e., grasping with two fingers) or a power grip (i.e., grasping with hall the hand). Two target images were choose, one inducing a precision grip (an egg cup) the other a power grip (a glass). It was telling to the participants to press a buzzer when these images appeared (the buzzer was in front or in the right of the participants). The presentation of these images was preceded either by two or three images inducing the same (no break in the simulations) or a different gesture (break in the simulations). Results show an effect of the main factors: age, break in the simulations, location of the buzzer. But, the interaction between location of the buzzer and break in the simulations is only present in the older. We discuss these results according to the surprise-attention hypothesis.

Keywords: Prospective memory; Motor fluency; Discrepancy; Older adults

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