  Studies on prospective memory (PM) predominantly assess either event- or
time-based PM by implementing non-ecological laboratory-based tasks. The
results deriving from these paradigms have provided findings that are
discrepant with ecologically valid research paradigms that converge on the
complexity and cognitive demands of everyday tasks. The Virtual Reality
Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL), an immersive virtual reality (VR)
neuropsychological battery with enhanced ecological validity, was implemented
to assess everyday event- and time-based PM, as well as the influence of other
cognitive functions on everyday PM functioning. The results demonstrated the
importance of delayed recognition, planning, and visuospatial attention on
everyday PM. Delayed recognition and planning ability were found to be central
in event- and time-based PM respectively. In order of importance, delayed
recognition, visuospatial attention speed, and planning ability were found to
be involved in event-based PM functioning. Comparably, planning, visuospatial
attention accuracy, delayed recognition, and multitasking/task-shifting ability
were found to be involved in time-based PM functioning. These findings further
suggest the importance of ecological validity in the study of PM, which may be
achieved using immersive VR paradigms.
