Rewriting Memories

Well, sort of. A neuroscientist experiments with "zapping" brains to obliterate or at least modify negative memories:

Neuroscientist Rewrites Fear

Does the memory itself vanish? Not exactly, it seems -- how can we really know what mice remember, though? -- but the fear associated with it appears to be reduced or eliminated. Negative memories (specifically, of fear-inducing phenomena) are overwritten by pleasurable ones. If applicable to human subjects, this technique might be useful to treat PTSD.

The research draws upon the fact that "memory is dynamic, not static. Every recall subtly alters the memory itself." It's now known that, contrary to earlier beliefs, memories aren't stored in the brain like recordings that can be played back with perfect accuracy over and over. Hypnotism can't unearth reliable recall of forgotten events. Rather, it's at risk of distorting memories or even creating false ones. As revealed by research into "repressed memories" by psychologists such as Elizabeth Loftus, it's alarmingly easy to induce people to believe they remember events that never happened.

Elizabeth Loftus

Eventually, the capacity to "rewrite traumatic memory pathways" might become a viable clinical approach. But even if future research makes it possible to extrapolate these techniques from mice to human patients, we'd still be a long way from SF scenarios along the lines of TOTAL RECALL or the chilling TV series DOLLHOUSE. Implanting elaborately constructed alternative past experiences in people's minds may remain the stuff of imaginative fiction. We don't have to go that far, though, to run into ethical issues. "The notion of erasing or altering memories raises risks of misuse or identity manipulation. . . . When does a 'helping hand' in memory editing become undue influence? Who decides what deserves erasure or augmentation? How will society balance mental health advancement with autonomy and consent?"

Moreover, suppose human subjects do consent in advance to having their remembered pasts rewritten? If they regretted the decision later, would the process be reversible? The question also arises of how important past experiences, even traumatic ones, are to our core identities. If we really could have all our most unpleasant memories deleted, should we?

Margaret L. Carter

Please explore love among the monsters at Carter's Crypt.