Learning Materials
Features
Discover
How can we remember events from 10 years ago but easily forget what we learned a day ago? And what happens to the forgotten memories anyway? Do they disappear? According to the interference theory of forgetting, sometimes other similar events obstruct our access to memories. Even though these memories are still there, we can't recall them. In this article, we'll see how interference has been studied in psychology.
Millions of flashcards designed to help you ace your studies
Sign up for freeHow is retrieval affected when multiple memories are associated with the same retrieval cues?
When new memories interfere with old memories, it's called ___ .
Last week you learnt Dutch words for different animals and this week you're studying German names. You find that whenever you try to recall German names, the only thing that comes to your mind are the Dutch ones. This is an example of ___ .
You forgot what you learnt in your morning biology class after studying similar concepts in chemistry right after. This is an example of ___ .
McGeoch & McDonald (1931) is a ___ .
Interference is an explanation for ____ forgetting.
How is retrieval affected when multiple memories are associated with the same retrieval cues?
When new memories interfere with old memories, it's called ___ .
Last week you learnt Dutch words for different animals and this week you're studying German names. You find that whenever you try to recall German names, the only thing that comes to your mind are the Dutch ones. This is an example of ___ .
You forgot what you learnt in your morning biology class after studying similar concepts in chemistry right after. This is an example of ___ .
McGeoch & McDonald (1931) is a ___ .
Interference is an explanation for ____ forgetting.
Achieve better grades quicker with Premium
Geld-zurück-Garantie, wenn du durch die Prüfung fällst
Did you know that StudySmarter supports you beyond learning?
Review generated flashcards
Start learning or create your own AI flashcards
Team Studies on Interference Teachers
Then, we'll describe McGeoch and McDonald’s (1931) classical study on interference.
Moving on, we'll focus on contemporary studies on interference theory psychology.
We'll use research to demonstrate how retroactive interference psychology and proactive interference psychology affect forgetting.
Interference is an explanation for long-term memory forgetting. According to this theory, memories similar to the target memory can hinder retrieval.
Interference is a process that affects memory recall in which specific memories interfere with the retrieval of other memories.
Interference occurs when we can't access the target memory because other similar memories make it difficult to do so.
This is because we often rely on cues associated with a memory to recall it. When multiple similar memories are associated with the same cue, retrieval will be impaired.
There are two types of interference: proactive and retroactive interference.
Proactive interference occurs when old memories interfere with recalling a new memory.
Let's say that you're learning German and Dutch. Last week you learnt Dutch words for different animals and this week you're studying German names. You might find that when you try to recall German names, the only thing that comes to mind is the Dutch ones.
Here the old memory (Dutch names) are interfering with the retrieval of new memories (German names). This is likely because they are both associated with similar cues.
On the other hand, retroactive interference occurs when the new memories interfere with what you have learnt earlier.
For example, you forgot what you learnt in your morning biology class after studying similar concepts in chemistry right after.
It might be challenging to remember which type of interference is which. Remember that the word retro means backwards, while pro means forward.
One of the early studies that aimed to investigate the effect of retroactive interference was conducted by McGeoch & McDonald (1931).
In this study, participants were asked to remember a list of words until they could recall it perfectly. Then, participants had to learn a new, second list. There were six groups, and each learned a different set of words for the second list.
You can see the groups listed in the table below:
| Group 1 | Synonyms – words with the same meaning as the originals |
| Group 2 | Antonyms – words with the opposite meanings as the originals |
| Group 3 | Words unrelated to the original words |
| Group 4 | Nonsense syllables |
| Group 5 | Three-digit numbers |
| Group 6 | No new list – these participants just rested (Control Condition) |
Participants then had to recall the original list of words.
Group 1, who learned the list with the most similar material (synonyms), had the worst recall. Group 5, who learned the most irrelevant material (numbers), had the best recall, apart from the control group.
It was concluded that the more similar information is, the more likely it will interfere retroactively with older memories.
Now, let's look at some more recent studies on proactive and retroactive interference.
Sosic-Vasic et al. (2018) studied whether the timing at which the new information is learnt will affect the degree of retroactive interference. Their sample consisted of 30 high school students, who were given a list of 12 German-Japanese word pairs and then another list right after, 3, 6 or 9 minutes after the first list. There was also a control condition when no second list was presented. Then, participants were asked to recall the information from the first list.
The study design was within participants, meaning that each participant took part in each condition, with 2-day breaks between them. They also went through the conditions in different orders to prevent order effects.
The researchers found that:
It was concluded that the period of 12 minutes after learning information is crucial for memory consolidation, and introducing similar information during this time results in retroactive interference.
Contemporary research on proactive interference has identified that it occurs when memories rely on the same neural circuit. It has also been found that a mnemonic technique called the Method of Loci can reduce Proactive Interference.
Crossley et al. (2019) investigate the time during which memories are sensitive to interference and the role of shared neural circuits between the target and interfering memories. They used conditioning to teach a pond snail to associate a stimulus with a reward (appetitive learning) or punishment (aversive learning).
Appetitive and aversive learning engages different neural circuits in the snail.
The authors investigated what would happen if new learning occurred when the old memory was still fresh and vulnerable to disruptions and what would happen if the old memory was already stable.
When the snail was taught a new association, no matter if it was similar to the first one, when the first memory was still vulnerable, the old one was forgotten due to retroactive interference.
| Type of new memory introduced | |||
| Similar to the old one (appetitive) | Different to the old one (aversive) | ||
| Time from learning the old memory | Short: Old memory is still vulnerable | Retroactive interference (old memory forgotten) | Retroactive interference (old memory forgotten) |
| Long: Old memory is stable | Proactive interference (new memory forgotten) | No interference (both memories preserved) | |
This study shows that in the case of retroactive interference, the time might be more important than shared neural circuits. Even if the new memory doesn't involve the same cues, it can still interfere with the old one.
While proactive interference only occurs if both memories engage the same circuits and can occur even after the new memory has become stable.
The famous Sherlock Holmes often talks about using a mnemonic technique called the mind palace to remember a large amount of complex information. This technique is also called the Method of Loci, and it involves associating each new piece of information you learn with an object that is part of a space you are familiar with (e.g. your house).
By systematically associating each piece of information with a different object, you can later use the mental image of the space to recall the information in the correct order.
Bass & Oswald (2014) aimed to investigate whether the Method of Loci mnemonic can be an effective way to prevent proactive interference.
They divided 94 undergraduate participants into two groups. Both groups were asked to memorise five lists, each containing five words in the fruit category. One group was trained on how to use the Method of Loci to memorise the lists, while the other was just told to memorise the list.
The group that was trained on the Method of Loci technique was asked to choose five places (e.g. five adjoining rooms) that they are familiar with and associate the words from the lists with objects in the rooms. Each list was to be associated with one room. Each word on the list was to be associated with a different object in that room.
Then the participants were asked to recall as many words from the lists as they could remember in any order.
The study found that:
This shows that associating the information with separate cues can help us prevent proactive interference. Keep this technique in mind next time you're memorising a list!
Fig. 2 - The Method of Loci mnemonic uses the representations of spaces which are familiar to you to prevent proactive interference.
Sign up for free to gain access to all our flashcards.
What is interference psychology?
Interference occurs when we can't access the target memory because other similar memories make it difficult to do so.
Who proposed the interference theory?
The first study investigating interference, that resulted in the development of the interference theory, was conducted by Bergström (1892).
How can I reduce memory interference?
You can reduce retroactive interference by not learning a lot of similar information at the same time. Proactive interference can be reduced by using mnemonic techniques like the Method of Loci.
What are the two types of interference forgetting?
The two types are proactive interference and retroactive interference.
What is proactive interference example?
Last week you learnt Dutch words for different animals and this week you're studying German names. You find that whenever you try to recall German names, the only thing that comes to your mind are the Dutch ones.
At StudySmarter, we have created a learning platform that serves millions of students. Meet the people who work hard to deliver fact based content as well as making sure it is verified.
Lily Hulatt is a Digital Content Specialist with over three years of experience in content strategy and curriculum design. She gained her PhD in English Literature from Durham University in 2022, taught in Durham University’s English Studies Department, and has contributed to a number of publications. Lily specialises in English Literature, English Language, History, and Philosophy.
Get to know Lily
Gabriel Freitas is an AI Engineer with a solid experience in software development, machine learning algorithms, and generative AI, including large language models’ (LLMs) applications. Graduated in Electrical Engineering at the University of São Paulo, he is currently pursuing an MSc in Computer Engineering at the University of Campinas, specializing in machine learning topics. Gabriel has a strong background in software engineering and has worked on projects involving computer vision, embedded AI, and LLM applications.
Get to know Gabriel
StudySmarter is a globally recognized educational technology company, offering a holistic learning platform designed for students of all ages and educational levels. Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more. We offer an extensive library of learning materials, including interactive flashcards, comprehensive textbook solutions, and detailed explanations. The cutting-edge technology and tools we provide help students create their own learning materials. StudySmarter’s content is not only expert-verified but also regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Learn moreSave explanations to your personalised space and access them anytime, anywhere!
Sign up with Email Sign up with AppleBy signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy of StudySmarter.
Already have an account? Log in
Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.
Explanations 
Flashcards 
StudySmarter AI 
Notes 
Study Plans 
Study Sets 
Exams 
Find a job 
Student Deals 
Magazine 
Mobile App 
