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The leading experimental technique for studying proactive interference in the brain is the “recent-probes” task. Initially, this is when participants must commit a set of items to memory. They then ask them to recall a specific item. Assessing them is showed by a probe. Thus, using recent-probes task and fMRIs, the brain mechanisms involved in resolving proactive interference identify as the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the left anterior prefrontal cortex.

Interference theory is a theory regarding human memory. Interference occurs in learning. It is the notion that memories encoded in long-term memory (LTM) are forgotten, and cannot be retrieved into short-term memory (STM). This is because of either memory interfering, or hampering, one another. There is an immense number of encoded memories within the storage of LTM. The challenge for memory retrieval is recalling the specific memory and working in the temporary workspace provided in STM. Retaining information regarding the relevant time of encoding memories into LTM influences interference strength. There are two types of interference effects:

Proactive interference is the interfering older memories with the retrieval of newer memories. Of the two effects of interference theory, proactive interference is the less common and less problematic type of interference compared to retroactive interference. Previously, it is hypothesized that forgetting working memories would be non-existent if not for proactive interference.