Interference is when two pieces of information conflict with each other so one or both are forgotten.
Interference is more likely when two pieces of information are similar.
For example, you will forget more when revising French then Spanish than you would when revising English then Maths because French and Spanish are more similar.
Retroactive interference
New information interferes with previously learnt information. Old information is forgotten.
Retroactive interference example
You get a new car registration and forget the old one.
Proactive interference
Past memories prevent new ones being stored in LTM. New information is forgotten.
Proactive interference example
Memory of an old phone number disrupting memory of a new one.
