Which term best describes the phenomenon where memory performance dramatically improves when the tested category is switched on every fourth trial?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks for the term that describes a situation where memory performance dramatically improves when the tested category is switched on every fourth trial.
Option 1: Release from inhibition. This term is not a standard descriptor in memory interference literature and does not capture the idea of improvements due to switching categories; it mislabels the mechanism.
Option 2: Release from AB-AC learning. This describes a specific experimental paradigm where switching from one type of paired-association (A-B) to another (A-C) can reduce interference, but the stem emphasizes switching the tested category on a regular schedule rather than a structured AB-AC sequence. While related to interference release, it does not precisely match the described phenomenon of category-switch-driven improvement across trials.
Option 3: Release from proactive interference. This is the classic and canonical explanation for improved performance when the test context or the material changes (e.g., switching categories or contexts), effectively reducing the buildup of prior learning that previously interfered with recall or recognition. The described pattern—improvement when the tested category changes every fourth trial—fits this phenomenon directly.
Option 4: Release from retroactive interference. Retroactive interference concerns new information interfering with old memories, not the other way around, and the scenario in the question centers on gains from changing the tested category, not on retroactive disruption.
In sum, the key idea here is that changing the category reduces the interference from prior material, which is the hallmark of release from proactive interference, whereas the other options describe different, less fitting or incorrect mechanisms.

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Which term best describes the phenomenon where memory performance dramatically improves when the tested category is switched on every fourth trial?

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