News, Scientists looking at 'erasing' memories. (dish, flash, quality, best)

[JD59]

LOS ANGELES, April 27 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say a discovery could lead to the ability to "alter" traumatic memories in war veterans, rape victims and others troubled by horrific memories.

Researchers at UCLA say they've been able to eliminate, or at least substantially weaken, long-term memory in both a marine snail and in neurons in a lab dish, a university release said Wednesday.



Read more: Scientists looking at 'erasing' memories - UPI.com

[JBrown]

I for one would love to "erase" the memory of some really stupid
things I did in my youth.

[jtur88]

That'll be great. An entire planet of people who don't remember the horrors of war and brutality. Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it.

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by jtur88

That'll be great. An entire planet of people who don't remember the horrors of war. Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it.

Or worse - creating artificial memories.

[Radrook]

Erase the memory and the lesson learned from that experience goes with it. On the other hand some memories are best forgotten since their effects on the quality of a person's present life can be disabling. For example-a woman who cannot have a normal relationship with men because she was raped. Or a war veteran who is plagued by horrific flashbacks of the horrors he witnessed. Both would be helped by forgetting those things.