Scientists have for the first time recorded individual brain cells in the act of summoning a spontaneous memory, revealing not only where a remembered experience is registered but also, in part, how the brain is able to recreate it.While the process is not yet totally understood, it looks as if they are certainly on the way. The philosophical and ethical implications of this might be worth discussing. If we could erase memories, could we erase guilty knowledge? Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!
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Single-cell recordings cannot capture the entire array of circuitry involved in memory, which may be widely distributed beyond the hippocampus area, experts said. And as time passes, memories are consolidated, submerged, perhaps retooled and often entirely reshaped when retrieved later.
9.05.2008
the spotless mind
One of my favorite movies is 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, one of Jim Carrey's better outings. If you recall, the movie involves a procedure that allows patients to erase memories of their choosing. The New York Times reports something today that suggests that a procedure like this might not be that far off! Brave new world, here we come:
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4 comments:
One of my favorite films as well.
By erasing memory, we would erase community and identity.
a scary thought.
by erasing memory, so many people can be blamed for things that they weren't involved in. It's like a set up method. Where's big brother at?
supreem
That's a good point - not only would we lose identity, there would be a whole host of other problems, some of which probably aren't even foreseeable. Hopefully it doesn't actually come to pass, but who knows.
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