Retroactive and proactive inhibition of verbal learning.

All studies dealing with the retroactive inhibition (RI) and proactive inhibition (PI) of verbal learning from 1941 to 1959 are discussed under the general headings: Degree of Acquisition, Similarity of Materials, Extrinsic Factors, Temporal Effects, and Major Theoretical Positions. Relatively little change has occurred in the theoretical approaches to RI within the last 10 years. Research interest in PI in general has been lower than that for RI, thus leaving many questions unanswered. Some 18 pressing problems are enumerated. (110-item bibliogr.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)