Interested in booking Dr. Braun for a speaking engagement?

I speak on how memory works—and where it can go wrong—in legal settings. My sessions translate cognitive science into practical insights for attorneys, investigators, judges, and law students. I cover eyewitness memory, stress and recall, child witnesses, and the science behind misremembering. Formats range from keynotes and CLEs to tailored workshops.

Sample Keynote

Title
Memory & the Law: The Vulnerabilities of Eyewitness Memory


Abstract
Eyewitness testimony plays a critical role in the judicial system but is often assumed to be more reliable than memory research suggests. People commonly perceive memories as precise, static, and unchanging—yet scientific evidence demonstrates that episodic memories are reconstructed during recall, making them vulnerable to error. This reconstructive process renders memories malleable and inherently susceptible to distortion. In this talk, we will explore how the brain encodes, consolidates, and recalls memories, highlighting how each stage is influenced by external factors. We will examine the roles of attention, pre- and post-encoding information, and stress in shaping memory accuracy. By understanding the mechanisms underlying memory errors, attorneys can more effectively challenge the reliability of eyewitness testimony, strengthening their ability to advocate for fairness and accuracy in the justice system.


Training Objectives 
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Describe how memory is encoded, consolidated, and recalled, and explain why each stage creates opportunities for memory distortion.

  • Identify how attention, leading questions, and post-event information can influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.

  • Explain the effects of stress on memory formation and retrieval.

  • Apply practical strategies to recognize and challenge unreliable memory evidence in court.


Bio
Erin Kendall Braun, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist with deep expertise in human memory. She earned her PhD in Psychology from Columbia University in 2018, where her dissertation, Brain Mechanisms of Adaptive Memory: Neuromodulation and Behavior, examined how memory is modulated after encoding. With over a decade of research experience, Dr. Braun has published in leading journals including Nature Neuroscience and Nature Communications, and has presented her work at national and international conferences. In 2021, she founded FathomCo, a consulting firm focused on applying memory science in real-world contexts. Dr. Braun serves as an expert witness in both consulting and testifying roles. Alongside her legal work, Dr. Braun partners on speaking engagements, product development, and creative ventures.