A diffusion model analysis of task interference effects in prospective memory

Boywitt, C. Dennis; Rummel, Jan · 2011 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3758/s13421-011-0128-6

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Summary

This study investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying the "task interference effect" in event-based prospective memory (PM), where holding an intention to perform a future action impairs performance on an ongoing task. While previous research established that this interference indicates resource-demanding processes, the specific nature of these processes remained unclear. The authors aimed to decompose the interference effect into distinct cognitive components—specifically, actual processing demands versus strategic approaches to task monitoring—by applying the diffusion model to PM data. This mathematical modeling approach allows for the separation of information uptake efficiency (drift rate, *v*) from response caution or criterion setting (threshold, *a*). The research comprised two experiments using a color-matching task as the ongoing activity, with embedded PM cues requiring a specific key press. Experiment 1 validated the interpretation of the diffusion model’s threshold parameter (*a*) as reflecting strategic caution. Participants were divided into high- and low-expectancy groups regarding the likelihood of PM cue occurrence, while actual task demands remained constant. Results showed that participants in the high-expectancy group adopted a significantly more conservative response criterion (higher *a*) than those in the low-expectancy group. Crucially, there were no significant differences in drift rate (*v*) or nondecisional time (*t0*), confirming that *a* selectively captures strategic adjustments based on anticipated demands rather than changes in processing efficiency. Experiment 2 disentangled the contributions of actual processing demands and strategic approaches to the task interference effect. Participants performed the ongoing task under three conditions: a demanding PM task, a nondemanding PM task, and a control condition without PM. Diffusion model analyses revealed that the task interference effect was driven by two distinct processes. First, the demanding PM task resulted in a lower drift rate (*v*) compared to the nondemanding and control conditions, indicating less efficient information processing due to the actual cognitive load of monitoring for cues. Second, the demanding PM task elicited a more conservative response criterion (*a*) than the control condition, reflecting a strategic shift toward caution. The nondemanding PM task did not significantly alter the drift rate but did influence the response criterion. The findings demonstrate that the task interference effect in prospective memory is not monolithic but arises from the joint contribution of actual processing demands and strategic task approaches. Specifically, holding a resource-demanding intention reduces the efficiency of information processing in the ongoing task and prompts participants to adopt a more cautious response strategy. This study validates the diffusion model as a powerful tool for isolating latent cognitive processes in PM research, providing a nuanced understanding of how anticipated and actual demands jointly shape performance.

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• prospective memory interruptions