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 language | English |
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Title of host publication | International encyclopedia of the social and behavioural sciences |
Editors | James D. Wright |
Place of Publication | Amsterdam |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Pages | 613-620 |
Volume | 20 |
Edition | 2 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780080970875 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780080970868 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Mar 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
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