Tuned for the future: Intentions are only accessible when a retrieval opportunity is near

The intention-superiority effect describes faster reaction times for stimuli related to an intention than for more neutral material during the retention interval. Some authors have interpreted the effect in terms of a more persistent activation of intention-related material. However, typically parti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memory & cognition 2013-11, Vol.41 (8), p.1252-1260
Main Authors: Schult, Janette C., Steffens, Melanie C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Cognitive Psychology
Experiments
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Hypotheses
Intention
Learning. Memory
Male
Memory
Memory, Episodic
Mental Recall - physiology
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Random Allocation
Recognition (Psychology) - physiology
Studies
Young Adult
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Summary:The intention-superiority effect describes faster reaction times for stimuli related to an intention than for more neutral material during the retention interval. Some authors have interpreted the effect in terms of a more persistent activation of intention-related material. However, typically participants are instructed to realize the intention immediately after completing the task in which reaction times are assessed (e.g., a recognition task) in order to yield the intention-superiority effect. Thus, the reaction-time task is also associated with a retrieval context. We tested whether the proximity of a retrieval opportunity affects the intention-superiority effect by manipulating whether or not a recognition task indicated a retrieval opportunity. We observed an intention-superiority effect only if the task itself was a meaningful cue for a near retrieval opportunity. This finding indicates that even short-term-delayed intentions flexibly become more or less accessible, depending on the proximity of a retrieval opportunity. We further demonstrated that the intention-superiority effect is not restricted to motor tasks, but is also found for monitoring tasks when the task realization has personally relevant consequences (replicating Schult & Steffens, Memory & Cognition , 39, 1487–1495, 2011 ).
ISSN:0090-502X
1532-5946
DOI:10.3758/s13421-013-0337-2