Imagine
a moment in your life where you got bullied or experienced an embarrassing
moment in front of your crush. Everyone’s first instinct is to say “I wish I
could get rid of that moment.” With the advancements in technology, that day
might not be far when memory modification could become part of everyday life.
We see drugs such as Adderall and caffeine being used around us to enhance our
cognitive abilities to ace an exam or to exceed at a project. The concept of
altering our cognitive abilities and memories isn’t a new topic in the
scientific world. There have been numerous amounts of experiments performed
thus far to test the effects of specific drugs on our brains whether it’s to
find a cure for a disease or to discover the impact on cognition and memory but
now the question of modifying memories has become very popular. I had the
opportunity to hear Dr. Joseph Vukov from Loyola University Chicago speak about
findings on memory modification; he discussed the benefits of memory modification
along with the ethical issues that coincide it. 
Dr. Joseph Vukov mentioned
certain circumstances in which memory modifying technologies would be a good
thing. One such example is in soldiers with PTSD. These individuals had no
control over the situation they were in and developed a disorder with no fault
of their own. Wouldn’t it be a relief to relieve soldiers of the memories that
are causing the PTSD? Most individuals would say yes but the problem occurs
when considering all the details of applying the memory modification. When
would the treatment be provided: before or after coming from war? What would be
the specific guidelines for the treatment? Who will determine whether an
individual receives memory modification? The topic has been sparked but there
are too many questions left to be answered. Hopefully with time, we can figure out
the logistics behind the technology.
If we
altered our memories, wouldn’t that change our personality and our perspective
on life? This is another important question that is also raised. A lot of the
decisions we make are based on past situations and outcomes. If we got rid of
all of our bad memories, then what will be the motivation of our future goals
and desires. For example, if you were bullied as a child, you might be part of
organization that are anti-bullying. Without the negative experience of being
bullied, you might not be part of those organizations or sympathetic towards
victims of bullying.
We already know that memory
isn’t a tape that can be rewinded but rather it can be modified and gaps are
filled in as we try to recall something. A study by Susumu Tonegawa from MIT showed
that planting false memories in a mice brains was possible. The brain doesn’t
distinguish between real and false memories; the neural mechanism for memory
didn’t change when a false memory was implanted.
Another
study performed by Li-Heui Tsai discovered a gene called Tet1 that is important
to extinct memory. By enhancing the gene, there might be a possibility to
replace terrifying memories with more positive memories of the situation. The experiment
tested the effects of this by conditioning mice to fear a specific cage when
they were mildly shocked. After the mice formed the association between the
cage and being shocked, the mice were put in the cage but weren’t shocked.
Later on, the mice with normal Tet1 weren’t afraid of the cage due to the new
memories of no shock replacing the old memories of being shocked. Mice lacking
Tet1 remained fearful of the cage. The experiment shows that Tet1 plays a role
in memory. The results might be useful in soldiers with PTSD because enhancing
the Tet1 in these individuals might replace their awful memories with more
positive ones.
Memory
modification technology is an increasing topic which integrates many areas of
studies such as Psychology, Philosophy, and Neuroscience. While experiments are
being conducted on the scientific aspect of the topic, it’ll be interesting to
see how the ethical aspect turns out. Who will determine whether an individual
receives treatment? A Physician? A Psychologist? Until these guidelines are
formed, we’re left to our imagination and movies.
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