Toronto researchers at Sick Kids Hospital recently announced that they are now able to erase painful memories from the minds of mice. Harry Potter, Orwell, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind comes to mind.The possibilities for this technology are endless and so are the ethical dilemmas. I'm not really sure where to start, but neither are the researchers.
Mostly, the technology has been proposed to help detach people from the strong emotional reactions that accompany traumatic memories and are usually associated with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In theory, PTSD will be reduced, but I think that the potential for this technology to be abused is very strong.
Hopefully this will have strong restrictions to the use of it and will only be used as a last resort.
2 comments:
What exactly, I wonder, constitutes a "happy memory" for a mouse?
I'm happy for the scientists and that they got to announce something.
However, I don't see it as much progress...unless they're using the process to make the rodents forget about all the unpleasant testing they undergo? But is it unpleasant? You've made me contemplate the nature of a rodent's psyche and I'm worried that I'll continue to wonder about it.
=P
Don't Worry Seth.
If all the contemplating of the above discovery, does cause you feelings of woe and tribulation. At least now you know where to head to become the first human recipient, having forever happy thoughts only remaining thereafter.
We await progress reports with eager anticipation.
iarticul8
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