Memory L5-9

Question 1

L5: what is forgetting

Answer 1

Refers to the inability to access or recover information that has been previously stored in memory. When you forget something it means that it is inaccessible at the time of the attempted retrieval

Question 2

L5: what is the interference theory and types of interference

Answer 2

Forgetting occurs in the LTM because 2 memories are in conflict, might result in forgetting or distorting of one memory or the other or both
More likely to happen if memories are similar

2 types: proactive and retroactive
Proactive = when old memory interferes with recall of new memory (eg. teacher struggles to learn names of students in new class because she is confusing them with her last class)
Retroactive = when new memory disrupts recall of old memory (eg. Teacher forgets names of students in old class after learning names of new students)

Question 3

L5: why is interference worse when memories are similar

Answer 3

In proactive = previous stored info makes new info more difficult to store
In retroactive = new info overwrites previous memories that are similar