A disarmingly personal account of the new science of memory manipulation by one of today's leading pioneers in the field. As a graduate student at MIT, Steve Ramirez successfully created false memories in the lab. Now, as a neuroscientist working at the frontiers of brain science, he foresees a future where we can replace our negative memories with positive ones. In How to Change a Memory , Ramirez draws on his own memories of friendship, family, loss and recovery to reveal how memory can be turned on and off like a switch, edited and even constructed from nothing. Scientists discovered that memories are fluid - they change over time, can be deleted, reactivated and even falsely implanted. But if we can erase a deeply traumatic memory, would it change who we are? Ramirez carefully considers the ethics of artificially controlling memory, exploring how we might use this tool responsibly - for both personal healing and the greater good. A masterful blend of memoir and cutting-edge science, How to Change a Memory explores how neuroscience has reached a critical juncture, where scientists can see the potential of memory manipulation to help people suffering from the debilitating effects of PTSD, anxiety, Alzheimer's, addiction and a host of other neurological and behavioral disorders. Steve Ramirez has been featured on CNN, NPR and the BBC and in leading publications such as The New York Times , National Geographic , Wired , Forbes , the Guardian , The Economist and Nature .

An award-winning neuroscientist who has given TED talks on his groundbreaking work, he is associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University.