Prospective Memory Test

How the test works

Prospective memory is remembering to carry out an intention later while your attention is occupied by another activity. This test uses a word-classification task as the ongoing activity and places delayed intentions inside it.

Quick uses 4 event opportunities and 3 timed intentions, Standard uses 6 event opportunities and 4 timed intentions, and Full uses 8 event opportunities and 5 timed intentions.

Standard Two-Part format

This is the main test format. It measures event-based and time-based prospective memory in separate sections so each ability can be scored cleanly before the two scores are combined.

Event-based section

Before the section starts, memorize the target words. During the ongoing task, classify ordinary words as Living or Non-living. If one of your memorized target words appears, press REMEMBER instead. Missing a target lowers the event-based score; pressing REMEMBER for an ordinary word counts as a false prospective-memory response.

Time-based section

Continue classifying words, but also remember to press TIME ACTION at the target elapsed times shown before the section. The clock is hidden unless you press Check Time. Words advance on a fixed cadence, so answering faster or slower does not change how many ongoing-task items you face. A response close to a target time receives full or partial credit depending on its timing; unrelated TIME ACTION presses count as false responses.

Combined Challenge format

This advanced format keeps event-based and time-based intentions active together. Instead of memorizing specific target words, you remember a letter rule: when a word contains the displayed target letter, press REMEMBER. At the same time, you must also carry out the TIME ACTION intentions at the target elapsed times. Words advance on the same fixed cadence for every user, and the results still report Event-Based, Time-Based, Overall PM, and Ongoing Task Accuracy separately.

The Challenge setting applies to Standard Two-Part only. Easy uses a lighter cue load and wider timing window; Hard uses a heavier cue load and narrower timing window. Combined Challenge uses one fixed advanced configuration.

Scoring

The Event-Based score is based on remembered target cues with a penalty for false REMEMBER responses. The Time-Based score gives full credit for actions inside the main timing window, partial credit for actions in the nearby window, and a penalty for unrelated TIME ACTION responses. A later TIME ACTION can improve an earlier near response when it is closer to the same target, but the displaced earlier press then counts as a false response. The Overall PM score is the average of the two component scores.

Ongoing Task Accuracy is the percentage of all ongoing-task opportunities classified correctly. Wrong classifications, unanswered items, and false REMEMBER responses on ordinary words therefore lower this percentage. Classification Accuracy and Task Completion are also shown separately. At least 60% Ongoing Task Accuracy is required for the prospective-memory scores to be interpreted.

The number of clock checks is limited to the number of timed intentions. Clock checks are reported in your results but do not directly add to the prospective-memory score. The score is specific to this CT task and is not a percentile rank.

Keyboard controls

Press L for Living and N for Non-living. Press R for REMEMBER when an event cue appears. Press T for TIME ACTION and C to Check Time whenever a time-based intention is active.