The idea of a doctor erasing traumatic memory from your life seems like a swell idea until you consider you're giving control of your mind to someone who enjoys reading suicidal poetry and cries all the time. This is a psychologist with a knife. What were you thinking.
An entire mouse brain viewed from above: Neuronal extensions connect the two amygdalas (brightest green spots on both sides of the brain) with the prefrontal cortex (top)
Credit: Weizmann Institute of Science
Erasing unwanted memories is still the stuff of science fiction, but Weizmann Institute scientists have now managed to erase one type of memory in mice. In a study reported in Nature Neuroscience, they succeeded in shutting down a neuronal mechanism by which memories of fear are formed in the mouse brain. After the procedure, the mice resumed their earlier fearless behavior, "forgetting" they had previously been frightened.
- Science Daily: Turning down the brain to erase fearful memories
Say there, parents, there's a reason Junior doesn't put his hand into the flame for a candle a second time and that's because he's afraid of it now, right?
You've got to love their demented methods.
In the new study, the researchers first used a genetically-engineered virus to mark those amygdala neurons that communicate with the prefrontal cortex. Next, using another virus, they inserted a gene encoding a light-sensitive protein into these neurons. When they shone a light on the brain, only the neurons containing the light-sensitive proteins became activated. These manipulations, belonging to optogenetics -- a technique extensively studied in Yizhar's lab -- enabled the researchers to activate only those amygdala neurons that interact with the cortex, and then to map out the cortical neurons that receive input from these light-sensitive neurons.
- SD
Gregor Mendel, Father of Genetics, would likely blow his cork over this stuff.
Says Yizhar: "Our research has focused on a fundamental question in neuroscience: How does the brain integrate emotion into memory? But one day our findings may help develop better therapies targeting the connections between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, in order to alleviate the symptoms of fear and anxiety disorders."
- SD
The Rockhouse doesn't like this behavior modification at all and the clinical requirement is all very well but something like this could easily become quite the fashion and then you will see Beverly Hills custom clinics opening to serve the fears of the rich. It will spread like Botox after that.
Many of us are deeply resentful of government interference in much of anything. However, I submit there's tremendous potential for abuse in this type of treatment. Doctor Feelgood can ameliorate even your tiniest little worry, li'l rabbit. It will cost you but Doctor Feelgood is worth it.
The Rockhouse therefore submits this type of thing needs significant governmental regulation since the predictable consequence seems to be convenience behavior modification as a standard.
An entire mouse brain viewed from above: Neuronal extensions connect the two amygdalas (brightest green spots on both sides of the brain) with the prefrontal cortex (top)
Credit: Weizmann Institute of Science
Erasing unwanted memories is still the stuff of science fiction, but Weizmann Institute scientists have now managed to erase one type of memory in mice. In a study reported in Nature Neuroscience, they succeeded in shutting down a neuronal mechanism by which memories of fear are formed in the mouse brain. After the procedure, the mice resumed their earlier fearless behavior, "forgetting" they had previously been frightened.
- Science Daily: Turning down the brain to erase fearful memories
Say there, parents, there's a reason Junior doesn't put his hand into the flame for a candle a second time and that's because he's afraid of it now, right?
You've got to love their demented methods.
In the new study, the researchers first used a genetically-engineered virus to mark those amygdala neurons that communicate with the prefrontal cortex. Next, using another virus, they inserted a gene encoding a light-sensitive protein into these neurons. When they shone a light on the brain, only the neurons containing the light-sensitive proteins became activated. These manipulations, belonging to optogenetics -- a technique extensively studied in Yizhar's lab -- enabled the researchers to activate only those amygdala neurons that interact with the cortex, and then to map out the cortical neurons that receive input from these light-sensitive neurons.
- SD
Gregor Mendel, Father of Genetics, would likely blow his cork over this stuff.
Says Yizhar: "Our research has focused on a fundamental question in neuroscience: How does the brain integrate emotion into memory? But one day our findings may help develop better therapies targeting the connections between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, in order to alleviate the symptoms of fear and anxiety disorders."
- SD
The Rockhouse doesn't like this behavior modification at all and the clinical requirement is all very well but something like this could easily become quite the fashion and then you will see Beverly Hills custom clinics opening to serve the fears of the rich. It will spread like Botox after that.
Many of us are deeply resentful of government interference in much of anything. However, I submit there's tremendous potential for abuse in this type of treatment. Doctor Feelgood can ameliorate even your tiniest little worry, li'l rabbit. It will cost you but Doctor Feelgood is worth it.
The Rockhouse therefore submits this type of thing needs significant governmental regulation since the predictable consequence seems to be convenience behavior modification as a standard.
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