Interference

• Interference

  Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
• When does interference occur?

  When two pieces of memory conflict
• Why does forgetting occur in LTM?

  Can't get access to memories as interference between memories makes it harder to locate them
• 2 types of interference

  Proactive and retroactive
• Proactive interference

  Older memory interferes with a newer one - greater when the memories are similar
• Retroactive interference

  Newer memory interferes with an older one - greater when memories are similar
• Who investigated the effects of similarity on retroactive interference?

  McGeoch and McDonald
• Procedure of the effects of similarity study

  Participants learned words to 100% accuracy and then were given a new list to learn

  G1 - synonyms, G2 - antonyms, G3 - unrelated words, G4 - nonsense syllables, G5 - 3 digit numbers, G6 - no new list
• Findings of the effects of similarity study

  Most similar lists of words produced the worst recall so interference is strongest when memories are similar