Memory editing from science fiction to clinical practice
Open accessAbstract
Science fiction notions of altering problematic memories are starting to become reality as techniques emerge through which unique memories can be edited. Here we review memory-editing research with a focus on improving the treatment of psychopathology. Studies highlight two windows of memory vulnerability: initial storage, or consolidation; and re-storage after retrieval, or reconsolidation. Techniques have been identified that can modify memories at each stage, but translating these methods from animal models to humans has been challenging and implementation into clinical therapies has produced inconsistent benefits. The science of memory editing is more complicated and nuanced than fiction, but its rapid development holds promise for future applications.
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For emotional abuse survivors, interventions that enhance positive emotions, modify specific memories, employ mnemonic strategies, and adjust visual processing may help alleviate intrusive memories.
“For emotional abuse survivors, interventions that enhance positive emotions, modify specific memories, employ mnemonic strategies, and adjust visual processing may help alleviate intrusive memories (Phelps & Hofmann, 2019).”
From Systematic review on the treatment of emotional abuse victimization in women by an intimate partner (2025) · cites this paper as Phelps & Hofmann, 2019
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Systematic review on the treatment of emotional abuse victimization in women by an intimate partner
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- Authors
- Phelps, E. A., & Hofmann, S. G.
- Affiliations
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (US)
- Boston University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Phelps, Elizabeth A.
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2019-07-31
- Volume
- 572
- Issue
- 7767
- Pages
- 43-50
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2965930719
- Cited by
- 170
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 8
- FWCI
- 2.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (acceptedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- James S. McDonnell Foundation
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- memory editing, memory reconsolidation, memory consolidation, memory modification, memory reconsolidation blockade, clinical translation, science fiction
- MeSH terms
- Memory Consolidation, Animals, Humans, Memory, Psychopathology, Mental Recall, Models, Animal, Translational Research, Biomedical
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