By using pulses of light, researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine have produced, erased, and restored fearful memories in rats. It’s a finding that could have profound implications for people struggling with neurodegenerative and anxiety disorders.
The study, though not the first to implant a memory in a rodent, is the first to selectively remove a memory — in this case, a conditioned fear response — and then predictably reactivate it by stimulating nerves in the brain at frequencies known to weaken and strengthen the connections between synapses. It’s probably the most sophisticated memory engineering experiment done to date.
Memory implantation is now officially real
The movie Inception is getting closer to reality. By planting false memories into the minds of…
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What’s more, the study confirms a long-standing theory about how memories are made and stored in the brain. The experiment suggests that the weakening of specific nerve cells likely disassembles neuronal circuits, resulting in the inactivation of a memory. This confirmation hints at future therapies in which neuroscientists can take control of runaway emotional memories in mental illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Story: http://io9.com/a-new-technique-could-erase-painful-memories-or-brin-1585412300