What is the term for when previously learned material inhibits the ability to encode new material?

The term for when previously learned material inhibits the ability to encode new material is proactive interference. This phenomenon occurs when older memories compete with and disrupt the retrieval or encoding of newer information. For example, if a person has learned a new phone number but finds it difficult to remember it because they keep recalling an older number they had memorized, this illustrates proactive interference.

In contrast, cued recall refers to the retrieval of information from memory with the help of specific cues, while free recall involves retrieving information without any specific prompts or cues. Context-dependent cues pertain to how the context in which learning occurred can influence recall, highlighting the relationship between the environment and memory retrieval rather than interference between old and new material.