Cognitive interference refers to the disruption of cognitive processes, such as thinking, memory, or attention, caused by competing thoughts or distractions. This phenomenon can occur in various situations, such as during complex tasks or when multitasking, leading to decreased performance and increased errors. Factors contributing to cognitive interference include stress, fatigue, and environmental distractions. For example, when a person is trying to focus on a task while being interrupted by noise or other stimuli, their ability to concentrate diminishes. Understanding cognitive interference is important in fields like psychology and education to improve learning and productivity.