During learning, intervening activities inhibit learning retention {interference, memory}|. Newer items occupy memory. Later learning also affects memory consolidation. Interference effects happen only for verbal items learned transiently, not for facts and procedures. Interference effects happen only for items learned successively, not for longer time intervals. Echoic memory can exhibit interference. Iconic memory does not exhibit interference.
Earlier learning can disrupt later learning {proactive interference} {proactive inhibition}. Proactive interference can be high. Release from proactive inhibition can happen when subject matter changes or time between trials is long enough. Retroactive interference is more than proactive interference. Over time, retroactive interference decreases, but proactive interference increases.
Later learning can disrupt previous learning {retroactive interference} {retroactive inhibition}. For two verbal-item lists, recall is harder if lists share items. With more interfering-list repetition, retroactive interference increases, up to a limiting value. Retroactive interference appears high. Retroactive interference is more than proactive interference. Over time, retroactive interference decreases, but proactive interference increases. There can be output interference.
Recalling some class members inhibits memory of other members {output interference}. Recalling an item inhibits memory of other items.
Semantically related items increase interference in order recall and decrease interference in free recall {similarity-based interference}. Opposites increase interference in order recall and decrease interference in free recall, because they relate semantically. Visually or aurally related items have small interference effects compared to semantic effects.
Perhaps, interference provides alternative response to stimulus {response competition}. Response competition increases with few interfering-list repetitions but then decreases. However, most list-recall errors are not other-list items, so response competition is only one interference factor.
Perhaps, interference removes needed stimulus {stimulus absence}.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225