Bad Memory? Take a Pill.

[3113]

Scientists in the US say they have developed the ability to selectively wipe out uncomfortable memories. In experiments with mice, researchers from the Georgia College of Medicine were able to eliminate memories without any damage to the rodents' brains. They suggested that the technique which works on a particular protein in the brain could, one day, be used to help humans overcome traumatic events.

However, the chief scientist said this was "years or even decades away". Memories, even painful ones, are an important part of the learning process but for some people recalling traumatic events can be extremely damaging to their lives. Scientists at the Georgia College of Medicine say they have found a molecular mechanism that can rapidly remove specific memories. Working with mice, the researchers found that a particular protein has a crucial role in the formation of memories. Making the mice over-produce this protein while recalling a specific and painful event caused the memory to be completely eliminated.

The scientists say that in the long-term it should be possible to develop a pill that wipes out traumatic and fearful memories in humans. Dr Joe Tsien, of the Brain and Behaviour Discovery Institute in Georgia said: "First of all I should emphasise the methodology is not applicable to the human clinical situation yet. However, it does suggest molecular paradigms which we can explore to perhaps achieve the same kind of effects in humans - but those are probably years or decades away."

Dr Tsien said the technique might one day be applied to war veterans who "often suffer from reoccurring traumatic memory replays after returning home".

Uh-huh, yeah, right. It's only going to be used with good intentions Talk about a new kind of ruffie....

 

[epiphany65]

In the meantime, there's always alcohol...

 

[voluptuary_manque]

In the meantime, there's always alcohol...

Or joining the French Foreign Legion.

 

[redpaint]

Good or bad my memories are who I am and where I have been in life. They can keep their pills.

 

[rgraham666]

I loathed the idea behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

As redpaint put it, your memories are you.

I could see it being used for therapeutic purposes. But there's no way it will be strictly used for that.

 

[impressive]

I could see it being used for therapeutic purposes. But there's no way it will be strictly used for that.

Agreed. Can you say sheeple?

 

[rgraham666]

Agreed. Can you say sheeple?

Hopefully by that time we'll be able to move off this silly planet.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I keep hoping. Are you sure there isn't any place called Cretacea? I really, really wanna go there.

 

[starrkers]

Hopefully by that time we'll be able to move off this silly planet.

Why? So we can fuck up another one?

 

[rgraham666]

I'm hoping if we're smart enough to run, we're smart enough avoid the mistakes we made last time.

I hope.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'm hoping if we're smart enough to run, we're smart enough avoid the mistakes we made last time.

I hope.

There a lot of ways to live comfortably on a new planet without making it a wreck. Rule number one: Be very, very careful who you let immigrate!

 

[jomar]

I'm hoping if we're smart enough to run, we're smart enough avoid the mistakes we made last time.

I hope.

Not if you read sci fi. There will always be a Dr. Smith.

 

[Weird Harold]

Why? So we can fuck up another one?

Nope, so some of us will survive when the idiots (or a "dinosaur killer" asteroid) finally make this one unlivable


Hopefully those who do make it onto the "lifeboat" will know enough not use the hull planking for a cookfire before they make landfall -- but I doubt they will be that farsighted.


3113, I was hoping you'd found some progress on the "school in a pill" dream of Golden Age SF authors.

Instead, You've found the embryo of the dreaded "MIND WIPE" alternative to the Death Penalty -- which I personally consider a fate literallly worse than death.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Agreed. Can you say sheeple?

Yes indeed. I am sheeple

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Nope, so some of us will survive when the idiots (or a "dinosaur killer" asteroid) finally make this one unlivable


Hopefully those who do make it onto the "lifeboat" will know enough not use the hull planking for a cookfire before they make landfall -- but I doubt they will be that farsighted.


3113, I was hoping you'd found some progress on the "school in a pill" dream of Golden Age SF authors.

Instead, You've found the embryo of the dreaded "MIND WIPE" alternative to the Death Penalty -- which I personally consider a fate literallly worse than death.

Definitely!