What is interference and what role does it play in the formation of memories? Discuss examples of ...

ANSWER:
A significant factor in forgetting is interference, or the competition between new and older information in the memory system. The brain requires a measurable amount of time to consolidate a memory, or to produce a physical representation. In the window of time in which memories are being processed but not yet fully consolidated, they may be subject to distortion, loss, or replacement by interference from other bits of information.

How long is this window? Synaptic consolidation, the physical changes related to memory that occur at the level of the synapse, might take minutes or hours. Memory loss usually occurs when this consolidation is interrupted. Individuals who experience unconsciousness as a result of a head injury rarely remember much about the immediate circumstances leading to the injury. Procedures such as general anesthesia or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) often produce slight memory deficits spanning a period of hours or possibly a day or two before and after treatment.