Pill May Be Able to Erase Bad Memories - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 02-17-2009, 06:26 AM

http://news.aol.com/health/article/p...emories/345362

Pill May Be Able to Erase Bad Memories

(Feb. 16) - Scientists have discovered a drug that could erase fearful memories in humans.

The method, using existing blood pressure pills, could be useful for weakening or erasing bad memories in people with post-traumatic stress disorder, the researchers say.

Unfortunately, other research has shown, bad memories stick better than good ones.

Studies in animal models have shown that fearful memories sometimes change when recalled, a process known as reconsolidation, and that this reconsolidation stage is vulnerable to the blood pressure drugs, called beta-adrenergic receptor blockers.

In the new study on humans, by Merel Kindt and colleagues at University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands, 60 subjects were taught to associate pictures of spiders with a mild shock, creating a fearful memory. Later, they were given either a beta-blocker called propranolol or a placebo.

The group given propranolol had a greatly decreased fear response to the spider pictures 24 hours later, according to a synopsis of the work from the journal Nature Neuroscience. And the fear response did not return, suggesting that their fear memory was completely erased.

Some ethicists see problems, question whether such treatments begin to alter what it means to be human.

"An interesting complexity is the possibility that victims, say of violence, might wish to erase the painful memory and with it their ability to give evidence against assailants," said professor John Harris, an expert in biological ethics at the University of Manchester, in an article in the Daily Mail. "Similarly criminals and witnesses to crime may, under the guise of erasing a painful memory, render themselves unable to give evidence."

Meantime, scientists are zeroing in on how fear grips the mind.

In 2005, researchers found a fear-factor gene that helps distinguish between people who have no fear and those who are afraid of everything. And last fall, scientists discovered the glue that keeps fearful memories stuck in the brain, a protein called beta-catenin that helps long-term memories solidify.

There's apparently a natural way to rid yourself of bad memories, too. A 2007 study involving brain scans found that test subjects had the ability to suppress specific memories at a particular moment in time through repeated practice.

Janice · 02-17-2009, 06:50 AM

Hi Jenny, my fellow night owl.

I'm actually finishing up a quick e-mail to you, then hitting the sack, lol.

robyrob · 02-17-2009, 10:08 AM

they need to make a pill to make people stop taking all these pills.

Janice · 02-17-2009, 04:58 PM

I wonder if the pill can erase the movie Gigli out of my mind. There's two hours of my life I'll never get back.

HuntingtonM15 · 02-17-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I wonder if the pill can erase the movie Gigli out of my mind. There's two hours of my life I'll never get back.

Sadly, the curiosity in me still wants to see that movie. I want to know how bad it truly is.

Anyway, this thread reminds me of a book I recently read about this psycho murderer/rapist, David Parker Ray. After torturing the victims that he didn't kill, he would give them some kind of either pill or injection that supposedly erased all memories of what happened to them.

catlover79 · 02-17-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I wonder if the pill can erase the movie Gigli out of my mind. There's two hours of my life I'll never get back.

Seriously, this kind of pill sounds too good to be true.

TripperFan · 02-17-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I wonder if the pill can erase the movie Gigli out of my mind. There's two hours of my life I'll never get back.

I don't think there's ANYTHING they can do about that!

I don't see how this pill can zero in on certain memories and not erase others. Even tho I've got a ton I'd like to forget, you really can't because you learn from them and that's what makes you a better person in the long run.

TJL · 02-17-2009, 08:10 PM

"Damn it, Bones, you're a doctor. You know that pain and guilt can't be taken away with a wave of a magic wand. They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my pain taken away! I need my pain!"
- Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek V - The Final Frontier

catlover79 · 02-17-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

I don't think there's ANYTHING they can do about that!

I don't see how this pill can zero in on certain memories and not erase others. Even tho I've got a ton I'd like to forget, you really can't because you learn from them and that's what makes you a better person in the long run.

Thank you, Cathie. You just summed up my feelings on the subject perfectly.

Marvo301 · 02-17-2009, 08:34 PM

I can't remember, did I take my pill?

02-17-2009, 06:26 AM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Pill May Be Able to Erase Bad Memories http://news.aol.com/health/article/p...emories/345362 Pill May Be Able to Erase Bad Memories (Feb. 16) - Scientists have discovered a drug that could erase fearful memories in humans. The method, using existing blood pressure pills, could be useful for weakening or erasing bad memories in people with post-traumatic stress disorder, the researchers say. Unfortunately, other research has shown, bad memories stick better than good ones. Studies in animal models have shown that fearful memories sometimes change when recalled, a process known as reconsolidation, and that this reconsolidation stage is vulnerable to the blood pressure drugs, called beta-adrenergic receptor blockers. In the new study on humans, by Merel Kindt and colleagues at University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands, 60 subjects were taught to associate pictures of spiders with a mild shock, creating a fearful memory. Later, they were given either a beta-blocker called propranolol or a placebo. The group given propranolol had a greatly decreased fear response to the spider pictures 24 hours later, according to a synopsis of the work from the journal Nature Neuroscience. And the fear response did not return, suggesting that their fear memory was completely erased. Some ethicists see problems, question whether such treatments begin to alter what it means to be human. "An interesting complexity is the possibility that victims, say of violence, might wish to erase the painful memory and with it their ability to give evidence against assailants," said professor John Harris, an expert in biological ethics at the University of Manchester, in an article in the Daily Mail. "Similarly criminals and witnesses to crime may, under the guise of erasing a painful memory, render themselves unable to give evidence." Meantime, scientists are zeroing in on how fear grips the mind. In 2005, researchers found a fear-factor gene that helps distinguish between people who have no fear and those who are afraid of everything. And last fall, scientists discovered the glue that keeps fearful memories stuck in the brain, a protein called beta-catenin that helps long-term memories solidify. There's apparently a natural way to rid yourself of bad memories, too. A 2007 study involving brain scans found that test subjects had the ability to suppress specific memories at a particular moment in time through repeated practice.

02-17-2009, 10:08 AM	#3
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,198	they need to make a pill to make people stop taking all these pills.
	__________________ * firefox * AdAware * HiJackThis * CoolWebShredder * Spybot * SpywareBlaster * Spyware Terminator * * GeeksToGo * AntiVir * Avast antivirus * Housecall Online * Sysinternals Security Utilities * * ZoneAlarm * Agnitum-firewall * Comodo Firewall * AVG Anti-Rootkit * RootkitRevealer * ParasiteCheck * * Annoyances * FreeCodecs * Mikes-Hosts-File * GRC.com * MSAntispyware * DVD's * TradeList * myspace *

02-17-2009, 08:10 PM	#8
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	"Damn it, Bones, you're a doctor. You know that pain and guilt can't be taken away with a wave of a magic wand. They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my pain taken away! I need my pain!" - Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek V - The Final Frontier
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

02-17-2009, 08:34 PM	#10
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I can't remember, did I take my pill?
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

02-17-2009, 06:50 AM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Hi Jenny, my fellow night owl. I'm actually finishing up a quick e-mail to you, then hitting the sack, lol.

02-17-2009, 04:58 PM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I wonder if the pill can erase the movie Gigli out of my mind. There's two hours of my life I'll never get back.