Neural correlates of the formation and realization of delayed intentions

Abstract

Prospective memory (PM) can be thought of as the ability to successfully form and later realize intentions that must be delayed over some period of time. In this study, event-related brain potentials were used to explore the neural activity associated with the formation and realization of an intention. Greater negativity over the frontal-polar region was associated with intention formation trials in which the intention was later realized. On PM cue trials, an N300 was associated with the detection of a cue. For PM cue trials, a late positive complex was observed that might have reflected the retrieval of an intention from memory, and a frontal slow wave was observed that might have reflected the activity of a neural system that supported disengagement from the ongoing activity when the cue was detected.