Ongoing research has demonstrated some advances in memory manipulation techniques: they have succeeded in adding or removing memories, but what are the ethical limits?
Forget an event, a moment or a person. Human memory is one of the great abilities of the brain. And although it is an overly studied organ, being able to erasing memories is something we only see in science fiction movies.
Until now.
And that’s it THE science He has already succeeded in manipulating memories, but not yet those of a human being. but of mice.
The experiment involved giving an electric shock every time a guinea pig was in a certain area of a container. So, at each pass, they were “paralyzed with fear” because they thought they were going to suffer.
But what was surprising was that There were rodents that did not receive an electric shock but had exactly the same reaction as those that had felt pain. In other words, scientists artificially “implanted” a memory in them.
How can I erase a memory from my memory
Optogenetics is a research method in which genetic engineering and optics are used to control specific brain cells. And this has been one of the driving forces for science to discover how to erase or add memories to memory.
The neuroscientist Boston University, Steve Ramirez explained that With this method, they can make “the brain cells that we think store memories turn a different color.”
“At this time, a microscope is used to get closer to these cells and try to find out how they differ from other cells that do not participate in memory-related processes or how they differentiated when they participated in the memory process. preservation of memories. »
This way, They were able to “artificially modify” the memories: they were able to add positive evocations and “deactivate” negative evocations.
However, as explained Wired , This is an invasive technique that is not yet applicable to humans.
“It is likely, even inevitable, that within a few decades, similar results could be obtained in humans to treat disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. » Ramírez told the same media.
Another method to modify our brain’s memories
In addition to previous experience, Further research is underway to be able to modify memory in humans in the future.
This is the Decoded Neurofeedback (DecNef) that combines brain scanning technology thanks to an MRI and an artificial intelligence machine learning algorithm to process data in real time.
“Initially, it was a question of modifying an aspect of visual perception, for example by accelerating the memorization of information linked to orientation in space, by reinforcing the corresponding neuronal activity. A revolutionary result at the time,” he said. Aurelio Cortese, senior researcher at the ATR Institute in Kyoto .
But over time, His team of researchers succeeded in modifying the memory linked to objects and animals, “that is to say something much more complex than a simple visual stimulus”.
In simple terms, the method is as follows People can control the impact of negative, stressful and painful memories, forcing the brain to repeat the exercise hundreds of times until they learn it.
According to Cortese, they succeeded with this method: “We showed that the physiological reaction to memories linked to negative emotions is reduced by DecNef. In short, the memory chosen as the objective is modified.
“What was previously considered terrifying, for example, becomes neutral. »
Can I delete memories from my memory?
“In reality, this is already happening, for example, “If a person is under the influence of drugs, alcohol or coupled with stressful events like an accident: memories are not stored in the brain.”
In fact, researchers are studying how Protein synthesis inhibitors (as a pharmacological method) can erase memories from the mind, although there is no pill available in the market yet.
For scientists, the future in this area is optimistic, since the ability to manipulate animal neurons increases with each experiment.
“We are putting the pieces together to understand how memory works. Understanding the process of memory consolidation will allow us to understand how to act accordingly.
But We must not forget ethical considerations: Memories are an essential part of every person’s identity, therefore, with the development of methods capable of manipulating the brain, Protection of privacy and mental integrity must be ensured.
And that’s it, What would happen if memory manipulation was used for war or political purposes?
“In general, it is better to discuss ethical issues earlier than when it is too late. In the case of our research, this is taken into account even before the manipulation, from the access and reading of the data of the test participants. Our experiments are still reviewed by an ethics committee,” Cortese explained.
For his part, Ramírez asked himself an important question: “When does it make sense to artificially activate or erase memories in humans?
“It is clear that it is not acceptable to consider using these techniques solely to manipulate memory, by adding or removing memories. The goals should be therapeutic.
Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
