Which type of memory loss occurs due to prior learning disrupting new information retention?

The correct response is proactive interference, which refers to the phenomenon where previously learned information hinders the retention of new information. This type of memory loss occurs when old memories interfere with the ability to learn or recall new information. For example, if an individual learned a new language but previously studied another language that is similar, the knowledge from the first language may disrupt their ability to acquire vocabulary or grammar rules from the new language.

In contrast, retroactive interference involves new information impeding the retrieval of old information; motivational forgetting relates to the intentional suppression of memories, and contextual forgetting pertains to the inability to retrieve memories due to a change in environmental context. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping how memory functions and the dynamics between old and new information.