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Related Experiment Videos

The role of interference in memory span.

C P May1, L Hasher, M J Kane

  • 1University of Arizona, Tucson, USA. mayc@cofc.edu

Memory & Cognition
|November 30, 1999
PubMed
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This summary is machine-generated.

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Proactive interference (PI) significantly impacts memory span performance in both younger and older adults. Reducing PI improved memory span, especially in older adults, suggesting interference-proneness affects cognitive capacity measures.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Memory

Background:

  • Proactive interference (PI) is a phenomenon where prior learning hinders new learning.
  • Memory span measures are commonly used to assess working memory capacity.
  • Older adults are often suggested to be more susceptible to PI than younger adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of proactive interference (PI) susceptibility on memory span performance.
  • To examine age-related differences in PI effects on memory span.
  • To determine if PI-reducing manipulations can enhance memory span estimates.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted using two distinct memory span measures.
  • Testing procedures were manipulated to systematically reduce PI.

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  • Both younger and older adult populations were recruited for participation.

    • Main Results:

    • Span estimates increased for older adults with each PI-reducing manipulation.
    • Younger adults showed improved scores when multiple PI-reducing manipulations were combined.
    • PI-reducing techniques enhanced performance in paradigms with high within-task PI.

    Conclusions:

    • Proactive interference critically influences performance on memory span tasks.
    • Interference-proneness may be a key factor in cognitive behaviors previously attributed solely to capacity.
    • Findings highlight the importance of considering interference effects in memory research and assessment.