Forgetting: Interference

• Interference:

  • when two pieces of information disrupt eachother
  • May result in forgetting one or both pieces of info
  • May distort the information
  • More likely to lead to forgetting of the LTM as we cant access memories if though they are available
• Retroactive interference:

  When new info interferes with remembering old info

  retro = old under attack
• Proactive interference:

  When something we previously learned interferes with remembering newer info

  Pro = new under attack
• McGeoch and Mcdonalds procedure:

  Studied RI by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of words. Participant had to remember 10 words with 100% success. They then learned a new list.

  6 participants received 6 different lists.

  Group 1 = Synonyms

  Group 2 = Antonyms

  Group 3 = words unrelated to original

  Group 4 = consonant syllables

  Group 5 = three digit numbers

  Group 6 = just retested (control)
• McGeoch and McDonald Findings:

  When the participant were asked to recall the original, the synonyms produced the worst recall, then antonyms.This may because of PI (previously stored makes it difficult for new to be stored) or because of RI (new information overwrites previous similar memories).
• Strength of forgetting due to interference: Real world interference

  Baddeley and Hitch

  • asked rugby players to recall the names of the teams they had played during a season.
  • These players had all played the same time but a different number of matches.
  • Those who played more games had worse recall.
• Strength of forgetting due to interference: Support from drug studies

  Coenen and van Luijtelaar:

  • gave participants a list of words and later asked to recall the list.
  • They found when a list was learned under diazepam recall was poorer (in comparison to a control group) but when the drug was taken before the new info, recall increased.
  • Due to drug preventing new info reaching the brain so no retroactive interference can happen.
• Limitation of forgetting due to interference: Interference and cues

  • Interference is temporary and can be overcome by using cues.
  • Tulving and Psotka gave participants lists of words organised into categories
  • Recalled averaged at 70% for the first list but got progressively worse
  • At the end they did a cued recall and the recall rose again to 70%, showed that there was a temporary loss buy the material was still accesible by cues
• Example of Retroactive interference:

  E.g. calling an old student a new students name
• Example of proactive interference:

  E.g. old pin code with new pin code