This may sound a bit like science fiction, but researchers have discovered various ways to change, delete, and deploy reports in humans. To understand how this is all made possible, it is first necessary to explain how memories are formed and how each memory is stored in our brain.
With the advances in science, scientists have discovered that every memory we retain is made up of multiple connections through the brain. A memory is formed when certain proteins stimulate brain cells to grow and form new connections, almost like re-wiring circuits. When this happens, the memories are procured into our brains, and will subsequently stay there as long as the functionality in the brain is sustainable.
However, a crucial aspect that many people do not fully comprehend is that long-term memories are not stable. In fact, many times that the memory was checked upon the individual, one’s memory showed signs of malleability, reset stronger, and increased vividness than before. This process is known as re-consolidation, and can explain why our memories may sometimes change slightly over time. For example, if an individual fell of a bicycle, then he/she would recall the memory as bothersome, and consequently, strengthen your memory connections with emotions of fear and sadness. Eventually, that memory of falling off the bicycle can cause and potentially instill fear into an individual. Alternatively, one can empathize with this certain kind of situation as many individuals have certainly had a traumatice experience, but over the years, have laughed over the memory instead.
The process of re-building is an essential point towards changing one’s memories.
Richard Gray of the "Telegraph" explains in a fairly understandable way: "The memories can be manipulated because they are like glass, and when they are created, they melt before solidifying. But when you recall a memory, it melt again allowing you to alter them before they solidify."
One way to change a person’s memories is to make them feel less traumatic about the memory, and avoid associating negative emotions with what had transpired. To make this possible, the Norepinephrine must be blocked. (An organic chemical that functions in the human brain and body as a hormone and neurotransmitter.)
For example, researchers in Netherlands showed that this method could be used to eradicate arachnophobia using Propranolol. (An agent produced by neurotransmitters and blocker of Norepinephrine.) For the research conducted, the scientists gathered three groups of people with arachnophobia. Two out of the three groups were shown spiders in a jar to shoot their fears. Out of those same two groups, Group A was given Propranolol and Group B was given a placebo. Lastly, Group C was given only Propranolol without showing spiders.
A few months later, all three groups were shown spiders while the scientists were measuring each group’s level of fear and types of responses. The groups who were given Propranolol without seeing spiders and a placebo(Group C & B) showed no changes in their levels of fear. Instead, the group that was shown the spiders and given Propranolol (Group A) were able to touch the spiders in the course of days. After 3 months, many of individuals of Group A still felt comfortable holding spiders, and even after a year, the fear did not return.
The same drug (Propranolol) has been tested on more occasions. In 2007, victims of post trauma were allocated into 2 groups as one group was given a placebo and the other Propranolol. For 10 days, the patients were asked to describe the memories of their traumatic events. The group that was given propranolol were able to recall events with less apprehension.
A similar technique was employed on mice, which makes them forget a particular sound associated with electric shocks, leaving their memories intact.
To our knowledge, humans that have not yet attempted to completely erase a memory, various ethical, although in theory the right combination of medication and exercise to remember, this is possible.
Ultimately, the most worrying facet about the research is to implement memories in people who have proven to be fairly easy. The psychologist Julia Shaw has shown that a person may remember having committed a crime that they in fact did not commit, and even recall details of the fictional event.
With the advances in science, scientists have discovered that every memory we retain is made up of multiple connections through the brain. A memory is formed when certain proteins stimulate brain cells to grow and form new connections, almost like re-wiring circuits. When this happens, the memories are procured into our brains, and will subsequently stay there as long as the functionality in the brain is sustainable.
However, a crucial aspect that many people do not fully comprehend is that long-term memories are not stable. In fact, many times that the memory was checked upon the individual, one’s memory showed signs of malleability, reset stronger, and increased vividness than before. This process is known as re-consolidation, and can explain why our memories may sometimes change slightly over time. For example, if an individual fell of a bicycle, then he/she would recall the memory as bothersome, and consequently, strengthen your memory connections with emotions of fear and sadness. Eventually, that memory of falling off the bicycle can cause and potentially instill fear into an individual. Alternatively, one can empathize with this certain kind of situation as many individuals have certainly had a traumatice experience, but over the years, have laughed over the memory instead.
The process of re-building is an essential point towards changing one’s memories.
Richard Gray of the "Telegraph" explains in a fairly understandable way: "The memories can be manipulated because they are like glass, and when they are created, they melt before solidifying. But when you recall a memory, it melt again allowing you to alter them before they solidify."
One way to change a person’s memories is to make them feel less traumatic about the memory, and avoid associating negative emotions with what had transpired. To make this possible, the Norepinephrine must be blocked. (An organic chemical that functions in the human brain and body as a hormone and neurotransmitter.)
For example, researchers in Netherlands showed that this method could be used to eradicate arachnophobia using Propranolol. (An agent produced by neurotransmitters and blocker of Norepinephrine.) For the research conducted, the scientists gathered three groups of people with arachnophobia. Two out of the three groups were shown spiders in a jar to shoot their fears. Out of those same two groups, Group A was given Propranolol and Group B was given a placebo. Lastly, Group C was given only Propranolol without showing spiders.
A few months later, all three groups were shown spiders while the scientists were measuring each group’s level of fear and types of responses. The groups who were given Propranolol without seeing spiders and a placebo(Group C & B) showed no changes in their levels of fear. Instead, the group that was shown the spiders and given Propranolol (Group A) were able to touch the spiders in the course of days. After 3 months, many of individuals of Group A still felt comfortable holding spiders, and even after a year, the fear did not return.
The same drug (Propranolol) has been tested on more occasions. In 2007, victims of post trauma were allocated into 2 groups as one group was given a placebo and the other Propranolol. For 10 days, the patients were asked to describe the memories of their traumatic events. The group that was given propranolol were able to recall events with less apprehension.
A similar technique was employed on mice, which makes them forget a particular sound associated with electric shocks, leaving their memories intact.
To our knowledge, humans that have not yet attempted to completely erase a memory, various ethical, although in theory the right combination of medication and exercise to remember, this is possible.
Ultimately, the most worrying facet about the research is to implement memories in people who have proven to be fairly easy. The psychologist Julia Shaw has shown that a person may remember having committed a crime that they in fact did not commit, and even recall details of the fictional event.
