SUMMARY

Based on research showing that easing task demands improves prospective memory, we examined the effects of breaks and task switches on prospective memory. The first experiment suggested that people tend not to take advantage of breaks to improve prospective memory unless specifically instructed to do so. The next two experiments showed that both breaks and task switches interfered with prospective memory. The results indicate that work settings with frequent breaks and task switches may be especially susceptible to prospective memory failure. Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. If we think about it even minimally, it is clear that our everyday lives are replete with prospective memory demands such as remembering to take vitamins, to give messages to various people, and to carry out errands. Prospective memory is also critical to many work settings. Loukopoulos, Dismukes, and Barshi (2001) have described the enormous number of prospective memory demands that occur in cockpit situations. Although many of these are scripted, they are still subject to failure under highly demanding situations, when routines are disrupted, and when there are interruptions. Prospective memory failures in these work settings can be catastrophic. For example, following a series of interruptions, a