How to erase a memory—and restore it

MedicalXpress ^ | June 1, 2014 | Unkown

[Zeneta]

How to erase a memory—and restore it

Using a flash of light, scientists have inactivated and then reactivated a memory in genetically engineered rats. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, is the first cause-and-effect evidence that strengthened connections between neurons are the stuff of memory.

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"Beyond potential applications in disorders of memory deficiency, such as dementia, this improved understanding of how memory works may hold clues to taking control of runaway emotional memories in mental illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder," said NIMH director Thomas R. Insel, M.D.

Neuroscientists have long suspected that strengthened connections between neurons – called long-term potentiation (LTP) – underlies memory formation, But proof had remained elusive, until now.

The Malinow team proved it by detecting LTP when forming a memory, removing the memory with a process known to reverse LTP, and then bringing the memory back via LTP – all by modifying the strength of synapses in a memory circuit.

To gain the precise control needed to show such a cause-and-effect relationship, Malinow's team turned to one of neuroscience's most powerful new tools: optogenetics. It adapts the same cellular machinery that allows primitive organisms like algae to be controlled by light from the sun to control specific brain circuit components instantly with a laser – even in a behaving animal.

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"This work provides a nice demonstration of how the field of neuroscience is being transformed by the types of technologies that are at the heart of President Obama's BRAIN Initiative," said Edmund Talley, Ph.D., program director at the NINDS.

[Zeneta]

What could go wrong ?

/s

[Rodamala]

[PieterCasparzen]

Golly.

With a few refinements, we could use that in secret national defense programs to develop people into programmed assassins.

If no psychiatrist could ever get to the bottom of who set them up, we’d have plausible deniability.

Might be convenient to learn how to program our “volunteers” to self-destruct, to permanently get rid of the evidence.

What an idear.

[faithhopecharity]

maybe it would help somewhat
if we could all erase our memories
of the last 6 years of WashDC?

[wildbill]

Hillary Clinton used “i don’t remember” or “I have no recollection of that” or variations over 250 times in previous Congressional hearings over Whitewater.

[bgill]

Next it’ll be re-education of anyone who doesn’t kow tow to the New World Order.

[Scrambler Bob]

Hillary needs this process.