What is retroactive interference?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, we restate the question and options to anchor the discussion: What is retroactive interference?
Option 1: Learning more recent information (e.g., List 2: cart – town) impairs our memory for prior information (e.g., List 1: cart – block).
Option 2: Remembering semantically unrelated information is harder than remembering semantically related information.
Option 3: Remembering a long list of words is harder than remembering a short list.
Option 4: Learning prior information (e.g., List 1: cart – block) impairs our memory for more recent information (e.g., List 2: cart – town).

Option 1 analysis: This option aligns with the classic definition of retroactive interference, where newly learned material makes it difficult to recall earlier material. The example contrasts List 2 (new information) interfering with List 1 (old information), which matches the phenomenon researchers describe as retroactive interference. The logic is that the memory trace of the earlier list is disrupted by subsequent learning.

Option 2 analysis: This statement speaks to the general idea that semantically related information facilitates memory (semantic relatedness effect), but it discusses the ease of remembering related versus unrelated info rather than the direction of interference between old and new material. It does not specify retroactive interference, so it misses the core concept and is therefore not accurate as a definition.

Option 3 analysis: This option describes a common memory phenomenon known as the serial position effect, where typically shorter lists or certain positions affect recall. However, it generalizes about list length and does not address interference between old and new material across time. Thus, it does not characterize retroactive interference.

Option 4 analysis: This statement describes learning older information impairing recall of newer information, which would be the opposite direction of interference. When prior information makes it harder to remember newer material, that would be anteretroactive interference (not a standard term) or simply a reversal of the retroactive effect. Since retroactive interference is specifically about new learning disrupting old memories, this option describes a different concept and is incorrect for defining retroactive interference.

Bringing the reasoning together, Option 1 uniquely captures the essence of retroactive interference by illustrating how newer information hampers recall of earlier material, while the other options either describe related but distinct memory phenomena or misstate the direction of interference. The contrast between List 2 interfering with List 1 in Option 1 is the essential hallmark of retroactive interference.

What is retroactive interference?

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