Final answer:
The statement in question defines 'proactive interference,' which is when old information inhibits the ability to remember new information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Old information inhibits one's ability to remember newer information" defines proactive interference. This is a type of interference where the old information hinders the recall of newly learned information. For example, an individual might continue to recall an old phone number instead of the new one that has recently been learned. Proactive interference is what makes it difficult to remember the new information because the old information competes with it.