For most subjects, changing the odd-numbered words had no effect. Not so for dieters. Dieters took 30 percent longer to find CLOUD after they had just searched for DONUT. Dieters were not slow overall—they found CLOUD just as quickly as nondieters when it was preceded by PICTURE. The DONUT was the problem. What is happening here is clear. It is a version of what psychologists call proactive interference.
