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Prospective memory

Prospective Memory Trainer

A continuous attention task runs in the background (judge whether numbers are odd or even). Hidden inside: an event-based cue (press Z when you see the number 7) or a time-based cue (press Z every 30 seconds).

What makes this one different

Most prospective-memory demos are abstract. We make the cost real — you have to keep the cue "active" in mind while doing the primary task. That dual-task cost is the actual measurement.

Cue
Score 0
Cues hit 0
Remember: Press Z whenever you see the number 7.
Press Start
J = odd · K = even · Z = cue
Ad slot.

Performance breakdown

Cues hit
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Cues missed
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Task accuracy
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History

No sessions yet.

What problem does it solve?

Prospective memory is the part of memory responsible for "remembering to remember" — taking medication, replying to an email, calling someone back. It's one of the most common complaints in aging and ADHD. We measure both your ability to detect the cue and the cost the cue imposes on your primary task.

Who is this for

How to interpret your results

Cue hit rate above 80% is good. Time-based cues are typically harder than event-based (you have to monitor the clock).

Task accuracy shows the cost of holding the cue in mind. If task accuracy drops significantly while a cue is active, the cue is "expensive" for you.

Limitations

  • Lab versions of this task have richer cues and longer sessions. We're using a simplified version.
  • Real-life prospective memory depends on environmental cues (the pill bottle on the counter). Our cues are arbitrary.

FAQ

Why is time-based harder than event-based?

Because you have to monitor the clock yourself. Event-based cues "trigger" automatically when the cue appears.

What if I press Z too eagerly?

It counts as a false alarm. That's also a useful signal — it shows you're prioritizing the cue over accuracy.

How do I use Prospective Memory Trainer step by step without mistakes?Follow the order given in the usage section: Embedded-target detection: while doing one task, press a special key when you see a specific cue. Event-based vs. time-based cue modes. The step-by-step part matters less than the unit check that sits inside it. Confirm every unit matches the thing you are actually trying to measure before you press calculate - that single check catches more wrong answers than any other habit, and it costs about ten seconds.
What are the common mistakes when using Prospective Memory Trainer?Most common mistakes come down to four habits: entering 20 when the field expects 0.2 because the field is a percentage; leaving a field blank and accepting the default without checking what it stands for; changing one input and reading a result that was calculated before the change; and quoting the output as an exact figure when the page describes it as a reference estimate. Press calculate again after any edit, and treat the number as a reference point rather than a final answer.
How do I read the result from Prospective Memory Trainer?Read the final figure first, then come back to this section for the conditions behind it: Cue hit rate above 80% is good. Time-based cues are typically harder than event-based (you have to monitor the clock). Task accuracy shows the cost of holding the cue in mind. If task accuracy drops significantly while a cue is active, the cue is "expensive" f Keep two things apart: the number itself, which comes from the values you typed, and the assumptions it depends on, which decide whether that number is meaningful. The page sets out what a higher or lower result means for your case, so check that direction as well as the magnitude.
Can I act on the Prospective Memory Trainer result directly?Treat it as one reference sheet before you decide, rather than as the answer itself: Lab versions of this task have richer cues and longer sessions. We're using a simplified version. Real-life prospective memory depends on environmental cues (the pill bottle on the counter). Our cues are arbitrary. The output describes a magnitude under the conditions you entered. It does not include what it actually costs to act, what might change while you act, or how the other side behaves. Before you commit, compare the result against reality and note which assumptions do not hold where you are.