Interference
Definition
Interference refers to when new or old information disrupts the ability to recall other information from memory. It can be either proactive (old information interferes with new) or retroactive (new information interferes with old).
Analogy
Imagine trying to listen to your favorite song, but someone else nearby is playing a different song loudly. The interference from the other song makes it difficult for you to focus on and remember your favorite one.
Related terms
Proactive Interference: Occurs when previously learned information hinders learning and remembering new information.
Retroactive Interference: Happens when newly acquired information interferes with recalling previously learned material.
Consolidation: The process of stabilizing memories over time through neural connections and synaptic changes in the brain.
"Interference" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Practice Questions (3)
Which psychological perspective challenges traditional theories of forgetting by focusing on interference from other information rather than decay over time?
What term describes forgetting due to the interference from new learning overwriting previous information?
What experiment would best examine the impact of interference on long-term memory?
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