Memory is a fundamental cognitive skill essential for learning, problem-solving, and daily living. Two ideas in the field of memory are proactive and retroactive interference. They are crucial to comprehending how our memories function and why we occasionally have trouble remembering things. I will provide examples in my life that correlates to these two retrieval problems and comprehend the complex connections between them and real-life examples.
When previous knowledge obstructs the learning and retention of newly acquired information, this is referred to as proactive interference. In essence, the previously learnt content hinders the recall or retention of more current information.
One of the hardest courses I’ve taken at Penn State is Physics. This course tested my ability to hold new information. One of the most challenging topics to for me was understanding the difference between mirror lens and camera lens. We learned about mirrors first and then about camera lens. These two topics are basically inverses of each other, so when I had to learn about camera lenses after I just learned about mirrors it was rather challenging. This retrieval idea of proactive interference was proven to be very difficult in my ability to learn a new topic. I was familiar with the principles of the mirror lens, and this previously learned information affected my ability to learn a similar topic of cameras.
Retroactive interference, on the other hand, refers to the disruption of memory retrieval by newly acquired information. Retroactive interference occurs when new information obstructs the recollection of previously learned material.
I have faced challenges with retroactive interference in many situations. One that stands out to me the most is the retrieval of my old home addresses. Throughout my life, I have lived in 4 different houses. Each time I move I find it harder and harder to remember the full address of the previous home. After I memorize a new house address, I lose the knowledge of the previous home addresses. I have vivid memories of trying to recall my previous addresses with my siblings. This is a perfect example of retroactive interference since this is a case of new information interfering with previously learned information. Our mind is a funny thing, and on a side note, I think it is funny that I can still remember my first house phone number but not the full address of that house.
In summary, both proactive and reactive interference are essential elements of the complex web of memory. These ideas clarify how we deal with the difficulties of learning and remembering knowledge, particularly while balancing several subjects or ideas. My experiences highlight the need for employing efficient memory strategies to reduce the impacts of proactive and retroactive interference. They also highlight the real-world relevance of these concepts and their direct impact on our cognitive processes.
