Jennifer Sweeton Explores the Neuroscience of Explicit vs Implicit Memories

In this session, Jennifer Sweeton examines the neuroscience of explicit and implicit memories, highlighting their distinct roles in trauma. Explicit memories, processed by the hippocampus, include conscious recollections, while implicit memories, stored in subcortical areas like the amygdala, lack conscious awareness but drive emotional and procedural responses. She illustrates their differences using studies on hippocampal and amygdalar lesions and examples like fear conditioning. Sweeton explains how implicit memories complicate trauma treatment, especially when linked to preverbal experiences. Effective therapy requires addressing both memory systems to reshape trauma-related neural networks. She emphasises using tools like EMDR to target implicit emotional memories for recovery.