Do distractors interfere with memory for study pairs in associative recognition?

In an associative recognition task, distractors generally consist of the rearrangement of items composing the study pairs. This makes it possible that processing the distractors generates retroactive interference on memory for the study pairs. Experiment 1 explored this possibility in a yes/no recognition test concerning previously learned arbitrary associations between visual symbols and auditory syllables. Rearranged pairs had a deleterious impact on the accuracy and the speed of responses to related correct pairs. This effect did not vary as a function of the number of training blocks and, furthermore, in Experiment 2, the same effect was observed for over- learned small multiplication facts. These results suggest that exposure to potentially confounding information generates interference even if this information is known to be incorrect. Some implications are outlined, especially with regard to the widespread use of multiple choices tests in knowledge evaluation.