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Learning to diminish the effects of proactive interference: Reducing false memory for young and older adults

Memory & Cognition volume 38, pages 820–829 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Results from two experiments revealed that prior experience with proactive interference (PI) diminished PI’s effects for both young and older adults. Participants were given two rounds of experience, with different materials, in a situation that produced PI. Comparisons with a control condition showed that the effects of PI on accuracy and on high-confidence intrusion errors (false memory) were reduced on the second round, as compared with those on the first. Also, the ability of confidence to diagnose accuracy of responding improved across rounds. Effects of prior experience with PI depended on feedback given at the time of test (Experiment 1). At least in part, the diminishment of PI resulted from participants’ allocating more attention to interference items during study in the second round than in the first (Experiment 2). Implications of the results for interpreting age differences in PI and false memory are discussed.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, 63130, MO

    Larry L. Jacoby, Christopher N. Wahlheim & Chad S. Rogers

  2. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

    Matthew G. Rhodes

  3. University of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina

    Karen A. Daniels

Authors
  1. Larry L. Jacoby
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  2. Christopher N. Wahlheim
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  3. Matthew G. Rhodes
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  4. Karen A. Daniels
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  5. Chad S. Rogers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Larry L. Jacoby.

Additional information

The research reported in this article was supported by National Institute on Aging Grant AG13845.

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Jacoby, L.L., Wahlheim, C.N., Rhodes, M.G. et al. Learning to diminish the effects of proactive interference: Reducing false memory for young and older adults. Memory & Cognition 38, 820–829 (2010). https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.38.6.820

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.38.6.820

Keywords

  • Prior Experience
  • False Memory
  • Item Type
  • Proactive Interference
  • False Recall