How To Intentionally Forget A Memory

Direct Suppression Try to block out all thoughts of a certain memory.

Increases activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (orange), which mediates working memory and cognitive control.

Reduces activity in the hippocampus (blue), an area important for conscious recollection.

Thought Substitution Try to forget by substituting the unwanted memory with a more desired one.

Increases activity in the left caudal prefrontal cortex (green), thought to decrease saliency of intrusive memories, and the midventrolateral prefrontal cortex (red), which helps to retrieve a specific memory.

• Increases activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (orange), which mediates working memory and cognitive control.
• Reduces activity in the hippocampus (blue), an area important for conscious recollection.

Thought Substitution Try to forget by substituting the unwanted memory with a more desired one.

• Increases activity in the left caudal prefrontal cortex (green), thought to decrease saliency of intrusive memories, and the midventrolateral prefrontal cortex (red), which helps to retrieve a specific memory.