Editing Interference theory (section)

==Similar theories==

===Decay theory===
[[Decay theory]] outlines that memories weaken over time despite consolidation and storage.<ref>Baddeley, A., Eysenck, M.W. & Anderson, A.C. (2009). Memory. New York, NY: Psychology Press</ref> This is to say that although you remember a specific detail, over time you may have greater difficulty retrieving the detail you encoded. It has been suggested that the time interval between encoding and retrieval determines the accuracy of recall.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Brown | first1 = J | year = 1958 | title = Some Test of the Decay Theory of Immediate Memory | journal = Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology | volume = 10 | pages = 12–21 | doi=10.1080/17470215808416249| s2cid = 144071312 }}</ref>

A practical example of [[decay theory]] is seen in the financial sector. If you open a bank account and do not deposit or withdraw money from the account, after some time, the bank will render the account dormant. The owner of the account, then, has to reopen the account for it to remain active. The bank account (the memory) is rendered dormant (the memory weakened) over time if there is no activity on the account (if the memory is not retrieved after some time).

====Similarities====
[[Decay theory]] is similar to interference theory in the way that old memories are lost over time. Memories are lost in Decay Theory by the passing of time. In Interference Theory, memories are lost due to newly acquired memories. Both Decay and Interference Theories are involved in psychological theories of [[forgetting]].

====Differences====
Decay and interference theory differ in that Interference Theory has a second stimulus that impedes the retrieval of the first stimulus. Decay Theory is caused by time itself. Decay Theory is a passive method of forgetting as no interference is produced.<ref>Grossberg, S. (1987) The Adaptive Brain: Vision, Speech, Language and Motor Control. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier</ref> Interference Theory is an active process because the act of learning new information directly impedes the recollection of previously stored information.

===Dual task interference===
Dual-task interference is a kind of interference that occurs when two tasks are attempted simultaneously. Harold Pashler wrote a paper summing up the theoretical approaches to dual-task interference.<ref name = Pashler>{{cite journal | last1 = Pashler | first1 = H. | year = 1994 | title = Dual-Task Interference in Simple Tasks: Data and Theory | journal = Psychological Bulletin | volume = 116 | issue = 2| pages = 220–244 | doi=10.1037/0033-2909.116.2.220 | pmid=7972591| citeseerx = 10.1.1.324.4916 }}</ref> The basis of his research looked at when one attempts two or more tasks at the same time, why in some cases is one successful in completing their task and in other cases not.<ref name="Pashler"/>

====Capacity sharing====
Pashler proposed that the brain contains one mental entity where all tasks must be carried out.<ref name="Pashler"/> A real-life example of this could be going to the dentist; the only place to have cavities filled is at a dentist's office. When the brain is attempting to complete two tasks, both tasks are present in the same mind area and compete for processing ability and speed.<ref name="Pashler"/> This relates to interference theory as the tasks compete. Interference theory says that the learning of new information decreases the retrieval of older information, and this is true for dual-task interference. The dominant task of the two inhibits the other task from completion. It is presumed that the dominant task would be a new task as a previously accomplished task would already be stored in memory. The new task would, then, be completed successfully as more mental effort is required to complete a novel task, and the previously completed task would not be completed as the new task dominated the mental capacity. Just as Interference Theory states, the completion of new tasks inhibits the completion of previously completed tasks due to capacity sharing.

====Cross talk models====
Cross-talk is the communication between sensory inputs, processing, and the thoughts of the individual.<ref name="Pashler"/> The theory is that if two processes are being activated, and they are not similar in any way (making cookies and going on vacation), the brain will be confused as separate cognitive areas are being activated, and there is conflicting communication between the two.<ref name="Pashler"/> Contrastingly, if the two processes are similar (making cookies and pouring milk), there will be less crosstalk and more productive and uninterrupted cognitive processing.<ref name="Pashler"/>

[[Crosstalk (biology)|Crosstalk]] is used by engineers to discuss the degradation of communication channels due to context dependence.<ref name="Pashler"/>

Navon and Miller claim that Dual-Task Interference is caused by an outcome conflict, which is a result of one task producing, "outputs, throughputs, or side effects that are harmful to the processing of the [other task]".<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Navon | first1 = D | last2 = Miller | first2 = J.O. | year = 1987 | title = Role of outcome conflict in dual-task interference | url = https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a095/db3a294bc6d993ae63d0faa351051c1900e4.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200220030815/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a095/db3a294bc6d993ae63d0faa351051c1900e4.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2020-02-20 | journal = Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance | volume = 13 | issue = 3| pages = 438–448 | doi=10.1037/0096-1523.13.3.435| pmid = 2958592 | s2cid = 31522771 }}</ref> This is the concept of Interference Theory. The thoughts, outputs, and side effects of one task either affect the previous or subsequent recall.