Biomaterial Database

The effects of retroactive and proactive interference on learning and memory in old and young rats. 1984

G Winocur

The effects of interference on learning and memory in old and young rats were compared using a visual discrimination task. In Experiment I, discrimination training was followed by one of three interference treatments and finally by retesting on the discrimination task. There were no age differences in original learning but old rats were significantly impaired in remembering the visual discrimination when a high-interference treatment involving similar stimuli was introduced between original learning and retesting. In Experiment II, old rats were impaired on discrimination learning when the high-interference treatment was administered before discrimination training. Analysis of response patterns showed that the exaggerated susceptibility of old rats to interference effects resulted in a general behavioral inflexibility similar to that observed in young adult rats with damage to the hippocampal region.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007266	Inhibition, Psychological	The interference with or prevention of a behavioral or verbal response even though the stimulus for that response is present; in psychoanalysis the unconscious restraining of an instinctual process.	Inhibition (Psychology),Inhibition, Psychology,Psychological Inhibition,Inhibitions (Psychology),Inhibitions, Psychological,Inhibitions, Psychology,Psychological Inhibitions,Psychology Inhibition,Psychology Inhibitions
D008297	Male		Males
D008568	Memory	Complex mental function having four distinct phases: (1) memorizing or learning, (2) retention, (3) recall, and (4) recognition. Clinically, it is usually subdivided into immediate, recent, and remote memory.
D010364	Pattern Recognition, Visual	Mental process to visually perceive a critical number of facts (the pattern), such as characters, shapes, displays, or designs.	Recognition, Visual Pattern,Visual Pattern Recognition
D011334	Proactive Inhibition	The state or process hypothesized to account for poorer learning rate for elements later in a series as compared to the learning rate for elements coming earlier in a series.	Inhibition, Proactive,Inhibitions, Proactive,Proactive Inhibitions
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D011931	Reactive Inhibition	Tendency toward a lessened strength of response due to practice or activity. It is independent of the effect of reward and is a direct function of time interval since the last response and the number of preceding responses.	Inhibition, Reactive,Inhibitions, Reactive,Reactive Inhibitions
D011939	Mental Recall	The process whereby a representation of past experience is elicited.	Recall, Mental
D004193	Discrimination Learning	Learning that is manifested in the ability to respond differentially to various stimuli.	Discriminative Learning,Discrimination Learnings,Discriminative Learnings,Learning, Discrimination,Learning, Discriminative
D005556	Form Perception	The sensory discrimination of a pattern, shape, or outline.	Contour Perception,Contour Perceptions,Form Perceptions,Perception, Contour,Perception, Form,Perceptions, Contour,Perceptions, Form