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.
