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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
Interference and Decay01:16

Interference and Decay

Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Proactive interference and practice effects in visuospatial working memory span task performance.

Lisa Durrance Blalock1, David P McCabe

  • 1School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA. lblalock@uwf.edu

Memory (Hove, England)
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Reducing proactive interference (PI) significantly improved recall in visuospatial working memory (WM) tasks. Practice effects on WM recall were greater when PI was reduced, impacting the relationship between WM and fluid intelligence.

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Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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Using Practice Testing, Public Speaking, and Source Monitoring to Examine the Influences of Learning Strategies and Stress on Episodic Memory

Published on: June 14, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Proactive interference (PI) is a phenomenon where prior learning interferes with current learning.
  • Visuospatial working memory (WM) is crucial for temporarily storing and manipulating visual and spatial information.
  • Understanding factors influencing WM recall is vital for cognitive theories and applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of proactive interference (PI) on recall in visuospatial working memory (WM).
  • To examine the effects of practice on WM recall under varying levels of PI.
  • To explore the relationship between WM recall, PI, and fluid intelligence.

Main Methods:

  • Participants performed a visuospatial WM span task under high-PI (traditional) and low-PI (with breaks) conditions.
  • Trials of varying lengths (2-5 items) were used across three blocks to assess practice effects.
  • Correlations between fluid intelligence and WM recall were analyzed in the final block.

Main Results:

  • Recall increased across blocks more significantly in the low-PI condition compared to the high-PI condition.
  • Reducing PI enhanced overall WM recall performance.
  • The correlation between fluid intelligence and WM recall was stronger in the high-PI condition after practice.

Conclusions:

  • Proactive interference (PI) is a significant source of variability in visuospatial WM span tasks.
  • Reducing PI enhances recall and alters the relationship between WM performance and fluid intelligence.
  • PI build-up is a key factor in the connection between WM recall and higher-level cognitive abilities.