Editorial: Memories for the Future 1 Markus Boeckle1*, Ueli Kramer2, Nicola S Clayton3 2 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, University Hospital Tulln, Karl 3 Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria 4 2Laboratory X, Institute X, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland 5 3Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom 6 7 8 * Correspondence: 9 Markus Boeckle 10 markus.boeckle@gmail.com 11 12 You may find the information below useful for your Editorial Preparation: 13 1000-word editorial article to pull together your research topic. 14 Find all accepted manuscripts here 15 Can include up to 1 figure. 16 Cannot contain any unpublished or original data. 17 Topic Editors are not required to pay a publishing fee for the editorial. 18 The title should be "Editorial: Memories for the Future" 19 All topic editors should be listed as authors of the editorial. 20 21 mailto:markus.boeckle@gmail.com 2 This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article Keywords: Episodic Memory, Future-oriented Behaviour, Memory Reconsolidation, Future 22 Planning, Animal Cognition, Psychotherapy, Cognitive Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience. 23 (Min.5-Max. 8) 24 Abstract 25 The special issue "Memories for the Future" in Frontiers in Psychology, edited by Markus Boeckle, 26 Nicky S Clayton, and Ueli Kramer, comprehensively explores how episodic memory influences 27 decision-making, behaviour and cognitive functions. This issue synthesises diverse interdisciplinary 28 research, offering novel insights into the flexibility of episodic memory and its implications for 29 future planning in political decision-making, psychotherapy, and mental health. The articles within 30 this issue span a range of topics, from the role of cognitive biases in climate change inaction to the 31 therapeutic potential of memory reconsolidation for PTSD. They collectively underscore the 32 transformative power of memory—both as a cognitive tool and a mechanism for psychological 33 healing. This issue advances our understanding of memory processes and paves the way for 34 innovative applications in mental health and environmental decision-making. In conclusion, the 35 "Memories for the Future" issue underscores the dynamic interplay between memory and behaviour. 36 It highlights the critical role of memory in shaping our interactions with the world and underscores 37 the transformative potential of memory-based therapies. This compilation of research serves as a 38 foundational step towards a deeper understanding of memory's role in human and animal cognition 39 and its practical applications in fostering psychological well-being. 40 41 3 1 Editorialtext 42 Our understanding of episodic memory has evolved significantly, revealing its critical role in shaping 43 decision-making for current and future events. The special issue of "Memories for the Future," edited 44 by Markus Boeckle, Nicky Clayton, and Ueli Kramer, spans theoretical work, pedagogical tools, and 45 practical applications in psychotherapy and political decision-making. 46 Human memory is a complex system comprising various subsystems, including working, episodic, 47 semantic, perceptual, and procedural memory (Finotelli and Eustache, 2023). These interconnected 48 systems allow humans—and, as research shows, some non-human animals—to recall past events and 49 navigate future challenges (Schacter and Addis, 2007, Boeckle and Clayton, 2017, Clayton et al., 50 2003). The plasticity of episodic memories enables them to change during recall, making them 51 powerful tools for adapting behaviour and improving mental health, particularly in psychotherapy 52 (Biderman and Shohamy, 2021, Bordalo et al., 2024, Ecker, 2024, Ecker and Vaz, 2022). 53 The malleability of episodic memory is central to therapeutic approaches like memory 54 reconsolidation, where reactivated memories are altered before being stored again, leading to lasting 55 therapeutic changes (Ecker and Vaz, 2022, Lane et al., 2015). Studies have shown that guided recall 56 of positive autobiographical memories can enhance psychological resources, reduce depressive 57 symptoms, and increase anticipated pleasure, highlighting memory's profound impact on mental 58 well-being (Hallford et al., 2024). Additionally, Ecker (2024) proposes that most psychotherapeutic 59 actions can be understood as memory modification processes, further emphasising the centrality of 60 memory in therapeutic change. As Kramer (2021) highlighted in his review of Lane and Nadel’s 61 book “Neuroscience of Enduring Change” (2020), there is a crucial need for further studies that 62 explore the interaction between memory change and emotional change within psychotherapy. 63 Research on episodic-like memory in animals further challenges the traditional view that complex 64 memory systems are exclusive to humans. Studies on species like corvids and great apes show that 65 they can recall past events to plan for future needs, offering comparative insights that deepen our 66 understanding of human and animal cognition (Boeckle and Bugnyar, 2012, Boeckle and Clayton, 67 2017, Boeckle et al., 2018, Clayton & Dickinson, 1998, Clayton et al., 2003, Gruber et al., 2019, 68 Miller et al., 2020, Osvath and Martin-Ordas, 2014, Raby et al., 2009). By studying how animals use 69 episodic-like memory, researchers can uncover fundamental principles that illuminate memory's 70 evolutionary roots (Rossi et al., 2021). 71 This special issue on "Memories for the Future" brings together diverse research contributions, 72 fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and inviting exploration of how memories, shaped by past 73 experiences, influence behaviour. This collection aims to develop new theoretical frameworks and 74 innovative therapeutic techniques, bridging the gap between basic research and clinical application. 75 The article “Effects of Memory Cue and Interest in Remembering and Forgetting of Gist and Details” 76 (Hu and Yang, 2023) explores how memory cues and personal interest affect the retention and 77 forgetting of gist and detailed information. The researchers found that memory cues significantly 78 influence the forgetting rates of gist and details. Specifically, when gist cues were used, gist 79 memories were retained longer than detailed ones, and vice versa. Interestingly, while subjective 80 interest improved memory accuracy, it did not impact the forgetting rates of gist and details. The 81 study highlights the complex interplay between external cues and intrinsic motivation in memory 82 processes, suggesting potential strategies for enhancing memory retention. 83 4 This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article The meta-analysis about narrative-based autobiographical memory interventions (NBI) by Raeder et 84 al. (2023) indicates that NBIs, which involve restructuring a patient's narrative to create a coherent 85 and positive life story, are effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. The study underscores the 86 importance of memory reconsolidation in these interventions, where reactivated memories are 87 modified to achieve therapeutic benefits. The findings suggest that NBIs provide long-lasting 88 symptom relief and are more effective than non-NBIs in addressing PTSD, highlighting their 89 potential as a therapeutic tool. 90 The study by Zeng et al. (2023) examines how episodic memory contributes to spatial learning, 91 highlighting its role in different learning paradigms: one-shot learning, replay learning, and online 92 learning. The research shows that episodic memory enhances learning efficiency, particularly in 93 complex tasks requiring rapid adaptation. The findings emphasise that replay learning, which mimics 94 natural memory processes like those in the hippocampus, leads to better long-term performance than 95 one-shot or online learning. These results underscore the critical role of episodic memory in 96 navigating and solving spatial challenges, offering insights into its broader implications for 97 understanding cognitive processes and adaptive behaviour. 98 Tanguay et al. (2023) explore the effectiveness of episodic specificity induction (ESI) in enhancing 99 children's episodic future thinking (EFT). The research investigates whether prompting children to 100 vividly imagine future events can improve their performance on tasks requiring future-oriented 101 cognition. The findings indicate that while ESI successfully promoted the construction of detailed 102 future events, the overall effect on children’s performance was modest, suggesting that the cognitive 103 demands of such interventions might be challenging for young children. The implications of this 104 study are significant for understanding how EFT can be nurtured in developmental stages, albeit with 105 potential limitations due to cognitive maturity. 106 The review of various mathematical models by Finotelli and Eustache (2023) describes human 107 memory, focusing on working, episodic, semantic, perceptual, and procedural memory. The authors 108 compare memory process models, highlighting each approach's strengths and limitations. The paper 109 emphasises the need for further development better to understand memory's role in cognition and its 110 disorders. This work contributes significantly to the ongoing effort to model human memory 111 mathematically, offering a foundation for future research in cognitive science and neuropsychology. 112 The potential of memory research to transform our understanding of human cognition is immense, 113 offering insights into political decision-making, psychotherapeutic interventions, and educational 114 tools. As we unravel the complexities of memory processes in humans and animals, we gain a deeper 115 understanding of how memory shapes interactions with time, space, and the environment. The 116 "Memories for the Future" issue underscores this dynamic interplay between memory and behaviour, 117 highlighting its critical role in shaping our world and the transformative potential of memory-based 118 therapies. This research is foundational to advancing cognition studies and fostering psychological 119 well-being. 120 2 Conflict of Interest 121 The authors declare that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial 122 relationships that could potentially create a conflict of interest. 123 3 Author Contributions 124 All authors contributed to the conceptualization and writing of the article. 125 5 4 Funding 126 Details of all funding sources should be provided, including grant numbers if applicable. Please 127 ensure to add all necessary funding information, as after publication this is no longer possible. 128 5 Acknowledgements 129 This is a short text to acknowledge the contributions of specific colleagues, institutions, or agencies 130 that aided the efforts of the authors. 131 6 References 132 BIDERMAN, N. & SHOHAMY, D. 2021. Memory and decision making interact to shape the value 133 of unchosen options. Nature Communications, 12. 134 BOECKLE, M. & BUGNYAR, T. 2012. Long-Term Memory for Affiliates in Ravens. Current 135 Biology, 22, 801-806. 136 BOECKLE, M. & CLAYTON, N. S. 2017. A raven’s memories are for the future. Science, 357, 126. 137 BOECKLE, M., SCHIESTL, M., FROHNWIESER, A., GRUBER, R., MILLER, R., 138 SUDDENDORF, T., GRAY, R., TAYLOR, A. & CLAYTON, N. S. 2018. Flexible Planning 139 [Online]. Available: osf.io/muaw9 [Accessed 23.7.2018 2018]. 140 BORDALO, P., BURRO, G., COFFMAN, K., GENNAIOLI, N. & SHLEIFER, A. 2024. Imagining 141 the future: Memory, simulation, and beliefs. Review of Economic Studies, rdae070. 142 CLAYTON, N. S., BUSSEY, T. J. & DICKINSON, A. 2003. Can animals recall the past and plan 143 for the future? Nat Rev Neurosci, 4, 685-691. 144 ECKER, B. 2024. A proposal for the unification of psychotherapeutic action understood as memory 145 modification processes. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 34, 291-314. 146 ECKER, B. & VAZ, A. 2022. Memory reconsolidation and the crisis of mechanism in 147 psychotherapy. New Ideas in Psychology, 66. 148 FINOTELLI, P. & EUSTACHE, F. 2023. Mathematical modeling of human memory. Front Psychol, 149 14, 1298235. 150 GRUBER, R., SCHIESTL, M., BOECKLE, M., FROHNWIESER, A., MILLER, R., GRAY, R. D., 151 CLAYTON, N. S. & TAYLOR, A. H. 2019. New Caledonian crows use mental 152 representations to solve metatool problems. Current Biology, 29, 686-692. e3. 153 HALLFORD, D., WOOLFIT, M., FOLLETT, A., JONES, E., HARRISON, O. & AUSTIN, D. 2024. 154 Guided recall of positive autobiographical memories increases anticipated pleasure and 155 psychological resources, and reduces depressive symptoms: a replication and extension of a 156 randomised controlled trial of brief positive cognitive-reminiscence therapy. Memory, 32, 157 465-475. 158 HU, Z. & YANG, J. 2023. Effects of memory cue and interest in remembering and forgetting of gist 159 and details. Front Psychol, 14, 1244288. 160 KRAMER, U. 2021. Neuroscience of Enduring Change: Implications for Psychotherapy. American 161 Journal of Psychotherapy, 74, 44-45. 162 LANE, R. D. & NADEL, L. 2020. Neuroscience of enduring change: Implications for 163 psychotherapy, Oxford University Press, USA. 164 6 This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article LANE, R. D., RYAN, L., NADEL, L. & GREENBERG, L. 2015. Memory reconsolidation, 165 emotional arousal, and the process of change in psychotherapy: New insights from brain 166 science. Behavioral and brain sciences, 38, e1. 167 MILLER, R., GRUBER, R., FROHNWIESER, A., SCHIESTL, M., JELBERT, S. A., GRAY, R. D., 168 BOECKLE, M., TAYLOR, A. H. & CLAYTON, N. S. 2020. Decision-making flexibility in 169 New Caledonian crows, young children and adult humans in a multi-dimensional tool-use 170 task. PloS one, 15, e0219874. 171 OSVATH, M. & MARTIN-ORDAS, G. 2014. The future of future-oriented cognition in non-172 humans: theory and the empirical case of the great apes. Philosophical Transactions of the 173 Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369. 174 RAEDER, R., CLAYTON, N. S. & BOECKLE, M. 2023. Narrative-based autobiographical memory 175 interventions for PTSD: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in 176 Psychology, 14. 177 ROSSI, E., ERICKSON-KLEIN, R. & ROSSI, K. 2021. The future orientation of constructive 178 memory: An evolutionary perspective on therapeutic hypnosis and brief psychotherapy. 179 American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 64, 90-97. 180 SCHACTER, D. L. & ADDIS, D. R. 2007. The cognitive neuroscience of constructive memory: 181 remembering the past and imagining the future. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal 182 Society B: Biological Sciences, 362, 773-786. 183 TANGUAY, A. F. N., GARDAM, O., ARCHIBALD, J., AYSON, G. & ATANCE, C. M. 2023. 184 Using an episodic specificity induction to improve children's future thinking. Front Psychol, 185 14, 1249090. 186 ZENG, X., DIEKMANN, N., WISKOTT, L. & CHENG, S. 2023. Modeling the function of episodic 187 memory in spatial learning. Front Psychol, 14, 1160648. 188 189 1 Editorialtext Our understanding of episodic memory has evolved significantly, revealing its critical role in shaping decision-making for current and future events. The special issue of "Memories for the Future," edited by Markus Boeckle, Nicky Clayton, and Ueli Kra... Human memory is a complex system comprising various subsystems, including working, episodic, semantic, perceptual, and procedural memory (Finotelli and Eustache, 2023). These interconnected systems allow humans—and, as research shows, some non-human a... The malleability of episodic memory is central to therapeutic approaches like memory reconsolidation, where reactivated memories are altered before being stored again, leading to lasting therapeutic changes (Ecker and Vaz, 2022, Lane et al., 2015). St... Research on episodic-like memory in animals further challenges the traditional view that complex memory systems are exclusive to humans. Studies on species like corvids and great apes show that they can recall past events to plan for future needs, off... This special issue on "Memories for the Future" brings together diverse research contributions, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and inviting exploration of how memories, shaped by past experiences, influence behaviour. This collection aims t... The article “Effects of Memory Cue and Interest in Remembering and Forgetting of Gist and Details” (Hu and Yang, 2023) explores how memory cues and personal interest affect the retention and forgetting of gist and detailed information. The researchers... The meta-analysis about narrative-based autobiographical memory interventions (NBI) by Raeder et al. (2023) indicates that NBIs, which involve restructuring a patient's narrative to create a coherent and positive life story, are effective in reducing ... The study by Zeng et al. (2023) examines how episodic memory contributes to spatial learning, highlighting its role in different learning paradigms: one-shot learning, replay learning, and online learning. The research shows that episodic memory enhan... Tanguay et al. (2023) explore the effectiveness of episodic specificity induction (ESI) in enhancing children's episodic future thinking (EFT). The research investigates whether prompting children to vividly imagine future events can improve their per... The review of various mathematical models by Finotelli and Eustache (2023) describes human memory, focusing on working, episodic, semantic, perceptual, and procedural memory. The authors compare memory process models, highlighting each approach's stre... The potential of memory research to transform our understanding of human cognition is immense, offering insights into political decision-making, psychotherapeutic interventions, and educational tools. As we unravel the complexities of memory processes... 2 Conflict of Interest 3 Author Contributions 4 Funding 5 Acknowledgements 6 References