Prospective memory in the developmental age: a systematic review to synthesize the evaluation tools and the main cognitive functions involved

Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember and realize one’s intentions in the future; therefore, it is crucial for the daily functioning of children and adolescents and their ability to become independent from caregivers. PM errors can have repercussions during childhood, such as influencing school performance and social relationships. The aim of this systematic review has been to synthesize studies analyzing PM in children and adolescents (age range: 0-16 years) according to PRISMA guidelines, to describe the most widely used tasks and provide information on the development of PM and the main cognitive processes involved in this age group. Thirty-eight studies were selected that examined PM in children and adolescents with typical development. The studies used eleven different paradigms to evaluate the PM, each structured into a PM and an ongoing task. Older children performed better on PM targets than younger children, suggesting a development that follows a J- shaped function. Several factors are involved in PM development: retrospective memory, metamemory, executive functions (planning, working memory, inhibitory control, monitoring), attention, and motivation. This review may be considered a starting point to summarize the most used tools to evaluate PM in children and adolescents, to stress the need for standardized tools, and to clarify the main cognitive functions involved in PM.