Retroactive Interference
Definition
Retroactive interference is a memory phenomenon where newly learned information interferes with the recall of older information.
Analogy
Think of your mind as a bookshelf. You've just read a new book (newly learned information) and placed it on the shelf, but in doing so, you've accidentally pushed an old book (older information) to the back where it's harder to see or reach.
Related terms
Recall: The mental process of retrieving information from the past.
Encoding: The initial learning of information; processing data into memory.
Long-term Memory: A type of storage in our brain that holds onto memories for long periods, even indefinitely.
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