A Brief Comparative Look at Experimental Memory Editing Techniques for Cognitive Dysfunction

: Neuroscience has long sought to develop methods that can “edit” or even “erase” mem- ories, with the aim to provide treatments for memory-related neurological and psychiatric diseases such as anxiety and addiction. Current efforts are heavily focused on modifying cognitive behavio- ral therapy protocols or pharmacological treatments, but the efficacy and safety of these methods have been called into question by several studies. Advances in modern technology and the rapid emergence of techniques that can directly stimulate/alter neuronal activity, such as neuromodula- tion, have great potential in achieving the goal of memory modification for treating dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, more research and validation studies are required before these memory editing technologies can be applied clinically. In this mini-review, we compare and high- light the advantages and disadvantages of cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacological methods, and neuromodulation techniques. We believe that neuromodulation techniques will play a key role in overcoming the challenges of translating memory-manipulating techniques to clinical applications.

Convict shame to convict chic: Intergenerational memory and family histories

This article highlights the significance of family history research for memory studies. It provides an overview of the economic and cultural impact of this popular practice as well as a survey of the interdisciplinary field of research emerging around questions of genealogy and identity. It then develops a framework for engaging with the intergenerational, socially responsive memory work of family historians drawing from Paul Connerton’s typography of forgetting, Maurice Halbwach’s theory of social memory and Karl Mannheim’s notion of generations. The article grounds this framework with a case study about generational conflicts in Australian family histories, specifically around the shifting status of the convict ancestor, from a figure of secrecy and shame to one of pride and intrigue. I argue that family history research reveals the process by which generations have shaped memory, editing ‘the family narrative’ in response to changing social ideas about which kinds of identities and families hold value and promise. The names and dates on family trees therefore tell the stories not just of a discrete set of individuals but also of how social, national and generational interests interlink to produce the narratives we live by in both intimate and public spheres.