What occurs to recall performance as the number of trials in short-term memory tasks increases?

When considering short-term memory tasks, recall performance often declines as the number of trials increases due to an effect known as proactive interference. This phenomenon occurs when previously learned information interferes with the ability to recall newer information, causing confusion about which items were presented in which trial.

As individuals complete more trials, they are presented with additional sets of information that can overlap with the earlier ones, leading to a deterioration in the ability to distinguish between the different sets of items. This results in a decline in performance, as the brain has to manage an increasing load of information, which can compromise clarity and retrieval accuracy.

Therefore, as the number of trials increases, the cognitive load and potential confusion rise, contributing to a measurable decline in recall performance.