Attentional selectivity in short-term memory: Similarity of process, not similarity of content, determines disruption

Background sound substantially disrupts serial recall, even under condition s where participants are explicitly told to ignore it. Study of such a phen omenon may serve to illuminate the manner in which information from various sources interacts in memory, as well as the extent to which unattended inf ormation is processed. A review of the literature is presented that points to a number of conclusions. First, that interference occurs in memory, not on the basis of similarity of content between relevant and irrelevant mater ial, but rather on the basis of similarity of process. Specifically in a se rial recall task, the key memory process is that of order retention, and th erefore, order information in the sequence of auditory events interferes wi th the process of ordering within the rehearsal set. Second, that organisat ion and interference within memory an intimately connected with perceptual processes.