Memory Modification: Too Good To Be True?

In today’s society, we try our best to make sure we prevent as many embarrassing moments as we can. Falling in front of a crowd or being caught singing in front of the mirror might make many of us cringe. Many of us try to stifle our bad memories and refrain from remembering them. Once they resurface, we are forced to relive that moment in our life again. From common embarrassing mistakes to life altering tragedies, bad memories preoccupy the minds of us all.
S. Matthew Liao’s article titled “The Normativity of Memory Modification” tackles a new ethical concern in the world of neuroscience. The article states that researchers are studying the relationship between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Memories that stem from strong emotional background tend to be remembered more strongly. For instance, remembering a family member’s death is easier than remembering what one ate for dinner last week. A catastrophic memory can easily resurface and this can cause extreme anxiety. Researchers are looking to apply memory modification to soldiers in war. Veterans are susceptible to extreme cases of PTSD due to all of the inhumane and heart wrenching events that they witness each day. Liao talks about the malleable nature of memories. Memories are often manipulated and altered depending on when we recall them. He states that each time we remember something, our recall of the event is a little bit different from the last.  Although there is a significant amount of research that is taking place, scientists are not at all close in modifying human memories at will (Liao, 89).
An issue that people may have in developing Memory Modification Technologies (MMT) is isolating memories. Memories are interconnected and many parts of the brain come together to encode memories. When manipulating one specific memory, other memories will in turn also be affected. Another problem that the author mentions is the idea that memory modification can leave to a world of mistrust. Memories function as evidence of events that occur in our lives. If we were to alter them in any way, the memories would lose their true meaning. Our perception of events would not be accurate and we would be living a lie. This proves to be an ethical concern as altering memories can lead to a multitude of problems. If two people were recalling a certain event, then they might burst out into an argument as each side believes their story is correct. This can lead to a multitude of problems that would affect all aspects of our lives including the judicial system. By modifying or blocking memories, we would be altering our true self. The experiences we go through, the hardships we face, the obstacles that force us to be stronger, are the ones that shape us to be who we are. If we were to take away the memories that crushed our hearts, it might change who we are. Without the pain that we once went through something so intense, our minds might force us to not care about certain issues.
Similarly, in an article titled “Does Memory Modification Threaten Our Authenticity”, the author Alexandre Erier talks just about that. He mentions that MMT raises a number of questions on the authenticity of the human self. He goes as far as to say that with this technology, might give society a false sense of too much control of our lives. Erier outlines four scenarios which show why MMT might be an unethical idea. In all four scenarios, we see that each person forgets who they actually are and take on a false life. Even though some of these choices may lead to a more positive outlook on life, once they alter their memories, they lose who they truly are.
When looking at both of these articles, it is clear to see that although Memory Modification Technology seems like a fascinating step forward in the world of neuroscience, it presents a multitude of ethical concerns. From what I have learned about MMTs, I have concluded that I do not agree with the use of MMTs. I believe that our memories shape us to be who we are. Without our bad memories, we may have a more positive outlook on life, but we may also change our true self. Often times, our parents remind us to never forget our roots and to carry on traditions. The same principle applies for MMTs as memories allow us to hold on to who we are.

Works Cited:

Erler, Alexandre. "Does Memory Modification Threaten Our Authenticity?" Neuroethics. Springer Netherlands, Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Liao, Matthew, and Anders

Sandberg. "The Normativity of Memory Modification." Springer Science, 10 Apr. 2008. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.