# Causal Path Alignment: Anchoring the Optimization Trajectory for Controllable In-Parameter Knowledge Editing

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.04042 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.04042/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 17 of its 22 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 4 Jun 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 17 of 17)

- [Locating and Editing Factual Associations in GPT](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.05262/) (2022)
- [Shortcut Learning in Deep Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.07780/) (2020)
- [Mass-Editing Memory in a Transformer](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.07229/) (2022)
- [A Survey on the Memory Mechanism of Large Language Model based Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.13501/) (2024)
- [Editing Factual Knowledge in Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.08164/) (2021)
- [Transformer Feed-Forward Layers Build Predictions by Promoting Concepts in the Vocabulary Space](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.14680/) (2022)
- [Dissecting Recall of Factual Associations in Auto-Regressive Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.14767/) (2023)
- [Large Language Models: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.06196/) (2024)
- [Aging with GRACE: Lifelong Model Editing with Discrete Key-Value Adaptors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.11031/) (2022)
- [AlphaEdit: Null-Space Constrained Knowledge Editing for Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.02355/) (2024)
- [Knowledge Editing for Large Language Models: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.16218/) (2023)
- [A Comprehensive Study of Knowledge Editing for Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.01286/) (2024)
- [From Human Memory to AI Memory: A Survey on Memory Mechanisms in the Era of LLMs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.15965/) (2025)
- [WISE: Rethinking the Knowledge Memory for Lifelong Model Editing of Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.14768/) (2024)
- [Uncovering Overfitting in Large Language Model Editing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.07819/) (2024)
- [Reinforced Lifelong Editing for Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.05759/) (2025)
- [Relation Also Knows: Rethinking the Recall and Editing of Factual Associations in Auto-Regressive Transformer Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.15091/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Knowledge editing is pivotal for efficiently updating the parametric memory of Large Language Models (LLMs), enabling them to function as evolving agents in dynamic environments. However, mainstream in-parameter knowledge editing approaches suffer from Subject-Dominant Memory Interference: modifying a specific fact inadvertently corrupts the broader structural knowledge associated with the same subject within LLMs. We diagnose the root cause as a shortcut learning pathology, where the optimization objective overfits subject representations while bypassing the essential relational context. To rectify this, we propose Causal Path Alignment (CPA), a principled framework designed to anchor the optimization trajectory to valid causal pathways. CPA enforces parameter updates to route through relation-aware intermediate states, thereby preventing the erasure of contextual dependencies. Experimental results across diverse LLM backbones demonstrate that CPA consistently eliminates the shortcut, significantly improving relation specificity while exhibiting minimal side-effects. Moreover, CPA serves as a model-agnostic plug-in for existing editors, paving the way for reliable and trustworthy in-parameter knowledge editing.