Effects of emotional motivation and cognitive control on prospective memory aftereffects of completed intention

Duan, Yajie; Shen, Lei; Liu, Wei; Chen, Ning · 2026 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-38675-5

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Summary

This study investigates the mechanisms underlying prospective memory (PM) aftereffects, defined as the repeated execution of intentions that have already been completed. The research addresses inconsistencies in existing literature regarding whether completed intentions are rapidly deactivated or remain dynamically active. Specifically, the authors examine how emotional motivation (approach/avoidance tendency and intensity) and cognitive control jointly regulate these aftereffects, testing the modified dual mechanism theory which posits that spontaneous retrieval and strategic monitoring are shaped by cognitive resource availability. The researchers conducted two experiments using a repetitive PM cue paradigm. In Experiment 1, 50 university students performed a picture categorization ongoing task while monitoring for specific emotional PM targets. The study manipulated the motivational tendency and intensity of both background stimuli and PM targets. Stimuli were selected from affective picture systems based on valence and arousal ratings to create high/low approach and avoidance categories. Participants completed a PM activation phase followed by a completion phase where they were instructed to ignore the previously relevant targets. Experiment 2 further explored cognitive control by manipulating cue type (focal vs. non-focal) and background-irrelevant stimulus congruence. Experiment 1 revealed that emotional motivation significantly modulates PM aftereffects. High background avoidance motivation inhibited aftereffects, whereas a combination of background approach motivation and target avoidance motivation enhanced them. This suggests that emotional motivation regulates cue salience and cognitive resource consumption. Experiment 2 demonstrated that cognitive control also plays a critical role: focal cues exerted a stronger inhibitory effect on PM aftereffects, while focal cues paired with incongruent background-irrelevant stimuli enhanced aftereffects. These findings indicate that cognitive control regulates aftereffects through the availability of cognitive resources. The results support the modified dual mechanism theory, suggesting that PM aftereffects arise from the interaction of spontaneous retrieval and strategic monitoring processes. The study concludes that the reactivation and deactivation of completed intentions constitute a dynamic continuum rather than an all-or-nothing process. Emotional motivation and cognitive control jointly modulate this continuum, with cognitive resource availability serving as a critical mediator. This work clarifies the divergent findings in previous research by demonstrating that the persistence of completed intentions depends on the specific emotional context and the cognitive resources available for inhibitory control.

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• prospective memory interruptions