This article presents a review of the literature concerning the cognitive mechanisms underlying prospective memory, organized according to the division of the different phases of this phenomenon (i.e., encoding, retention and retrieval). Initially, a variety of research data is presented supporting different explanatory approaches of the phenomenon of intended actions, namely their automatic and strategic processes. Also some potential explanations are presented about the mechanisms in effect during the retention interval and the encoding phase.
prospective memory; retrieval; retention; encoding
