While public fascination with suppressed memories gravitates to the dramatic and scandalous variety, as in recovered memories of abuse (e.g., the American child-abuse cases of the 1990s) or suppressed knowledge of guilt (e.g., O. J. Simpson's claim that he did not kill his wife), analysts have long been intrigued by the more subtle types found in everyday life. How does a patient who fought with her husband before leaving for work function happily in a board meeting an hour later? And what brings her anger flooding back as she re-enters her house that evening? Furthermore, in line with the Rouw & Schulte study described above, what brain regions are likely activated—or deactivated—when patients recall long-suppressed memories during sessions?

The recent study by Depue, Curran, and Banich explores this question with an innovative fMRI design. During a