Steve Ramirez

A neuromodulatory circuit-to-molecular pathway for reformatting aversive memories during recall Tan et al. identify a neuromodulatory circuit-to-molecular pathway in rats that updates aversive memories when they are recalled. Noradrenaline from the locus coeruleus triggers synapse-to-nuclear tra...

Excited to share our new paper:
We uncover a locus coeruleus→amygdala circuit linking β-adrenergic signaling to transcription regulation in defined amygdala cells during memory reconsolidation—+ stress or elevated noradrenergic signaling at recall can strengthen memory.
www.cell.com/neuron/abstr...

Returning as #OptoGRC2026 co-chair, meet @bjmarlin.bsky.social!

She's an assistant professor at @columbiauniversity.bsky.social & is most looking forward to seeing old friends & new data.

Bianca is also a proud bug mom, welcoming her first walking stick bug babies to her collection in September 🐛

Why You Can’t Remember Being a Toddler This form of amnesia is almost universal, but has long been overlooked.

Why can't you remember being a toddler? Or can you?

Nice feature in Time of our lab's work on infantile amnesia at @tcddublin.bsky.social

Also of the labs of @sarahdpower.bsky.social at MPI Berlin, @franklandlab.bsky.social at Sick Kids, and Nick Turk-Browne at Yale.

time.com/7380496/why-...

There’s still time to apply for #OptoGRC2026! 🙌

All applications are considered for support, including the opportunity for full registration coverage. Poster submissions & statements of interest encouraged!

Apply by 2/20 to maximize your chances👇
www.grc.org/optogenetic-...

Happy to share the newest study from our lab, led by superstar postdoc Dr. Rodrigo Campos Cardoso, where we resolve the infralimbic cortex GABAergic circuits of fear extinction: tinyurl.com/38vvr2my

meanwhile Word has its own tough criticism of the field!

Why emotion research is stuck—and how to move it forward Studying how organisms infer indirect threats and understand changing contexts can establish a common framework that bridges species and levels of analysis.

My perspective in @thetransmitter.bsky.social on why emotion research feels stuck and how we might move forward—by focusing on how the brain uses internal brain models to shape emotional processing across species. www.thetransmitter.org/emotion/why-...

Extinction and subsequent updating of innate fear responses to a visual looming stimulus rely on hippocampus-dependent mechanisms How does the brain balance innate responses with adaptive learning when reacting to threats? This study shows that repeated exposure to looming stimuli reduces innate defensive responses via hippocamp...

Starting 2026 with a thread a very recent manuscripts at Ryan Lab @tcddublin.bsky.social @tbsi-tcd.bsky.social

"Extinction and subsequent updating of innate fear responses to a visual looming stimulus rely on hippocampus-dependent mechanisms"
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

@PLOSBiology

I was asked to do an impromptu "Ask an Expert" radio interview on memory manipulation as a therapeutic for PTSD and Alzheimer's. The topic was prompted by @okaysteve.bsky.social recent book. Have a listen if interested! www.audacy.com/podcast/kcbs...

Leveraging insights from neuroscience to build adaptive artificial intelligence Nature Neuroscience - Adaptive intelligence envisions AI that, like animals, learns online, generalizes and adapts quickly. This Perspective reviews biological foundations, progress in AI and...

Interested in the latest advances in neuroscience (neural dynamics and internal models) and how they can be leveraged to build smarter, adaptive AI?

➡️ My first real solo piece 🖤🫶 @natneuro.nature.com

rdcu.be/eWVmA

Join us on 30 January as three rising stars— Jie Zheng, @marissascavuzzo.bsky.social and @drnancypadilla.bsky.social—sit down with @franciscorr25.bsky.social for a conversation exploring where the field of neuroscience is headed and how their work is helping to drive it forward.

#neuroskyence

Tomorrow (January 7th) at 6:30pm EST, please join Smithsonian Associates for a virtual event with @okaysteve.bsky.social, author of How to Change a Memory! Come hear him discuss his groundbreaking research into memory manipulation and the ethics of its use.

Grab your ticket now! buff.ly/2aveW3u

14. [last of 2025!] HOW TO CHANGE A MEMORY (Steve Ramirez @okaysteve.bsky.social). a great read - my favourite form of 'scientist writes a book'; a light touch on the sciencey nitty-gritty + much personal history and a moving narrative surrounding Steve's own mentorship from his late labmate Xu Liu

Next week, on January 7th at 6:30pm EST, please join Smithsonian Associates for a virtual event with @okaysteve.bsky.social, author of How to Change a Memory! Come hear him discuss his groundbreaking research into memory manipulation and the ethics of its use.

Grab your ticket now! buff.ly/2aveW3u

Body size predicts the selection of defensive behavioral strategies Survival depends on the ability to respond appropriately to threats, yet the selection of defensive behaviors varies among individuals with distinct b…

New paper from @ykneurores.bsky.social in our lab 📢
We show body size predicts defensive behavioral strategy; smaller animals adopt active avoidance, larger ones favor freezing, while sex and age don’t drive the effect. A clear demonstration that traits matter.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Don’t miss out on the chance to present at #OptoGRC2026!

Apply to attend and submit a poster abstract to be considered for an oral presentation during the conference 🎤

Early applications are strongly encouraged! 🔽
www.grc.org/optogenetic-...

thank you so much for reading and connecting with the memories and science in this book! it means the world and truly feels fulfilling to be able to honor both here. i appreciate you 🙌🏽!

Just finished this thrilling, vulnerable, and inspiring book on friendship, loss, addiction, resilience, and editing memories by Prof Steve Ramirez. Neuroscientists and neuroscience enthusiasts should enjoy this one.

Would You Erase a Painful Memory, if You Could? | KQED Airdate: Monday, December 8 at 10 AM In groundbreaking experiments with mice, Boston University neuroscientist Steve Ramirez has succeeded in turning memories on and off, even implanting new ones. He…

🎙️ON AIR:

We're talking to @okaysteve.bsky.social about his groundbreaking work with mice — turning memories on and off, even implanting new ones — and the ethical questions it raises.

❓What are your questions about the science of memory manipulation?

📻 Listen:

(1/6) We have a new paper out in #eNeuro!

How does the brain’s reward processing change across social contexts? We mapped brain activity (cFos) & found that social context reshapes how reward circuits are coordinated🐭🏆

Read more: www.eneuro.org/content/12/1...

Introducing co-vice chair @gisellavetere.bsky.social!

Gisella is a team leader at @espciparispsl.bsky.social and is most excited about the immersive exchange and new ideas #OptoGRC2026 will inspire.

Fun fact: when she’s not studying neurons, you can find her spinning on a pole 💃💪

@okaysteve.bsky.social's How to Change a Memory is out now!

In this book, Ramirez draws on his own memories to reveal how memory can be turned on & off like a switch, edited, & even constructed from nothing.

Explore a free sample: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

#Neuroscience #Memory

🚨 Reminder: Applications for #OptoGRC2026 are now OPEN!

Don’t miss your chance to join an incredible week of science, discovery, and connection with the brightest minds in optogenetics 💡🧠

Apply now for the best chance of acceptance: www.grc.org/optogenetic-...

Ventral tegmental area GABA neurons integrate positive and negative valence - Nature Communications The role of ventral tegmental area GABA neurons in behavior is unclear. Here, authors show that VTA GABA but not dopamine neurons integrate positive and negative valence to encode motivational conflic...

So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking

How Memories Might Be Used to Help Heal the Brain In a new book, Steve Ramirez explores the potential of memory manipulation to ease depression and other afflictions.

"I hope that the wearing-my-humanity-on-my-sleeves part at least continues to normalize the process of 'You’re going to have great days, and you’re going to have atrocious days in life.'"

It does, @okaysteve.bsky.social. It really does.

(via @undark.org)

undark.org/2025/10/29/i...

It's time to meet your #OptoGRC2026 chairs!

Co-vice chair @tinakim-neuro.bsky.social is an assistant professor at @princeton.edu who spent the summer building a van for weekend adventures 🚐✨

She's most looking forward to meeting new people & exploring areas outside of her usual wheelhouse!

Thank you, @thetransmitter.bsky.social, for including me on the list of Rising Stars in Neuroscience along with so many other spectacular neuroscientists! It is an honor to receive this recognition!

Two Neuroscientists Envision A ‘Repair Shop’ For The Brain In “How to Change a Memory,” neuroscientist Steve Ramirez embarks on a project to find and reactivate memories in the brains of mice.

"The idea of activating a memory? Very 'Total Recall' with a bit of 'Inception' thrown in. We felt like kids again, and our playground was the science lab." Read a full excerpt from "How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist's Quest to Alter the Past." 📚

thank you so much gisella -- this was truly an honor to read and i appreciate your kind words and trailblazing science so much 🙌🏽!!

Meditations on memory A neuroscientist presents an intimate portrait of engram research

Meditations on memory | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
It was an honour to review @okaysteve.bsky.social ’s How to Change a Memory for Science. The book speaks for itself, bold, inspiring, and full of soul. I’m just proud to highlight the incredible work behind it. So proud of you, Steve