Retroactive Interference

Michael Craig, Michaela Dewar, Sergio Della Sala

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Retroactive Interference (RI) refers to when newly acquired information impairs the retention of previously acquired information. RI is observed in both the Declarative and Non declarative divisions of the Long-Term Memory system. RI is observed across the lifespan. However, susceptibility to RI is heightened in the elderly and patients with memory impairments. RI is believed to occur via two mechanisms: (i) retrieval interference, where two or more memories sharing the same/highly similar retrieval cue compete for retrieval, and (ii) consolidation interference, where new incoming information disrupts the memory strengthening of recently acquired memory traces. Consolidation RI appears to be the main contributor of RI induced forgetting, the effects of which can be reduced if consolidation RI is delayed and/or minimised. Here we discuss representative behavioural and neuroscience research demonstrating the effects of RI..
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational encyclopedia of the social and behavioural sciences
EditorsJames D. Wright
Place of PublicationAmsterdam
PublisherElsevier
Pages613-620
Volume20
Edition2
ISBN (Electronic)9780080970875
ISBN (Print)9780080970868
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Mar 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Retroactive Interference
  • Long-term Memory
  • Declarative Memory
  • Nondeclarative Memory
  • Episodic Memory
  • Semantic Memory
  • Implicit Memory
  • Procedural Memory
  • Forgetting
  • Interference Theory
  • Memory Consolidation
  • Consolidation Interference
  • Retrieval Interference

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