Editing Forgetting (section)

=== Interference theories ===
[[Interference theory]] refers to the idea that when the learning of something new causes forgetting of older material on the basis of competition between the two. This essentially states that memory's information may become confused or combined with other information during encoding, resulting in the distortion or disruption of memories.<ref name=simply /> In nature, the interfering items are said to originate from an overstimulating environment. Interference theory exists in three branches: '''Proactive, Retroactive and Output'''. Retroactive and Proactive inhibition each referring in contrast to the other. Retroactive interference is when new information (memories) interferes with older information. On the other hand, proactive interference is when old information interferes with the retrieval of new information.<ref>Underwood, B.J. (1957). 'Interference and forgetting' in Psychological Review</ref> This is sometimes thought to occur especially when memories are similar. Output Interference occurs when the initial act of recalling specific information interferes with the retrieval of the original information. Another reason why retrieval failure occurs is due to encoding failure. The information never made it to long-term memory storage. According to the level of processing theory, how well information is encoded depends on the level of processing a piece of information receives. Certain parts of information are better encoded than others; for example, information this visual imagery or that has a survival value is more easily transferred to the long-term memory storage.<ref>E Bruce Goldstein (2019). Cognitive psychology : connecting mind, research, and everyday experience. 5th ed. Boston, Ma, Usa: Cengage.</ref> This theory shows a contradiction: an extremely intelligent individual is expected to forget more hastily than one who has a slow mentality. For this reason, an intelligent individual has stored up more memory in his mind which will cause interferences and impair their ability to recall specific information.<ref>{{Cite journal|pmc=1922558|year=1964|title=Forgetting|journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal|volume=90|issue=13|page=794|pmid=20327804}}</ref> Based on current research, testing interference has only been carried out by recalling from a list of words rather than using situation from daily lives, thus it is hard to generalize the findings for this theory.<ref name=simply />
It has been found that interference related tasks decreased memory performance by up to 20%, with negative effects at all interference time points and large variability between participants concerning both the time point and the size of maximal interference. Furthermore, fast learners seem to be more affected by interference than slow learners.<ref name="Sosic-Vasic Hille Kröner et al 2018">{{cite journal |last1=Sosic-Vasic |first1=Zrinka |last2=Hille |first2=Katrin |last3=Kröner |first3=Julia |last4=Spitzer |first4=Manfred |last5=Kornmeier |first5=Jürgen |title=When Learning Disturbs Memory – Temporal Profile of Retroactive Interference of Learning on Memory Formation |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |date=16 February 2018 |volume=9 |page=82 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00082 |pmid=29503621 |pmc=5820352 |doi-access=free }}</ref> People are also less likely to recall items when intervening stimuli are presented within the first ten minutes after learning. Recall performance is better without interference.<ref name="Sosic-Vasic Hille Kröner et al 2018"/> Peripheral processes such as encoding time, recognition memory and motor execution decline with age. However proactive interference is similar. Suggesting contrary to earlier reports that the inhibitory processes observed with this paradigm remain intact in older adults.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Archambeau |first1=Kim |last2=Forstmann |first2=Birte |last3=Van Maanen |first3=Leendert |last4=Gevers |first4=Wim |title=Proactive interference in aging: A model-based study |journal=Psychonomic Bulletin & Review |date=February 2020 |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=130–138 |doi=10.3758/s13423-019-01671-0 |pmid=31797260 |pmc=7000511 |s2cid=208620951 }}</ref>