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Aim of the study: Prospective memory (PM) is a cognitive high load activity. Two main models showed the relation between working memory (WM) and PM. The preparatory attentional and memory processes model (PAM) posits an interdependence between WM and PM; while, the multiprocess framework assumes independence between these two functions. Materials and methods: With the aim to investigate this relation, two tasks were administered to a sample of 21 healthy participants. The first task (arithmetic) required low cognitive and WM load together with a prospective task, the second (PASAT) required high cognitive and WM load together with a prospective switching task. The prospective task included two modalities of administration: based on a sound cue (event-based) or at a given moment (time-based). Results: PM accuracy was influenced by WM only when paired to complex tasks that require high cognitive load on WM and active PM self-retrieval processes (time-PASAT). Conclusions: These results support partial independence between these two mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prospective memory (PM) is a complex process involving multiple cognitive abilities. Several studies demonstrated the role of working memory (WM) in PM. However, to date, the extent to which PM and WM shared resources or, rather, they are distinct mechanisms is still debated. With the aim to investigate the role of WM in PM, we developed two experiments manipulating the WM load required by ongoing tasks to examine a patient with PM difficulties and dysexecutive syndrome following brain damage. Experiment 1 required a simple arithmetic activity together with a PM switching-task to be performed at a given time (time-based condition) or following cue presentation (event-based condition). In Experiment 2, we varied the complexity of the ongoing task (PASAT test). Patient MB's performance in PM tasks significantly differs from the controls only in the PASAT time-based condition. We demonstrated a partial independence between WM and PM in tasks involving automatic retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]