Selectively Erasing Unwanted Memories
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - 18:00
in Psychology & Sociology
The human brain is adept at linking seemingly random details into a cohesive memory that can trigger myriad associations — some good and some not so good. For recovering addicts or individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), unwanted memories can make recovery difficult. For example, former meth addicts report intense drug cravings triggered by associations with cigarettes, money, even gum, which makes them more likely to stumble during recovery.Scientists have been able to erase drug-associated memories in mice and rats without affecting other more benign memories. Their discovery points to a clear and workable method to disrupt unwanted memories while leaving the rest intact.Changing the Structure of Memory read more