Ethics of Optogenetics

    Being able to enhance memories in dire cases may prove to be extremely helpful. Instances where a person is having difficulty remembering an event they witnessed or when someone is going through PTSD. There have been many studies done in hopes to get a grasp at memory. One study by Chen et al. (2019) conducted research using optogenetics and chemogenetics on mice. They looked at the engrams produced by mice when recalling a memory. Reactivating those engrams would induce expected behaviors in certain situations. Activation of different areas of the hippocampus, dorsal compared to ventral, would lead to either a decrease or increase in the size of the freezing response. The experiments done by Chen et al. used optogenetics which is an invasive process. It involves exposure of the skull and then insertion of optic fibers needed for the process. The researchers opened the discussion of the possibility of using the technique on humans. This opens up questions relating to the ethics of such research.

In a paper by Adamczyk and Zawadzki, they discuss the ethical meanings of optogenetics and memory modification. There are safety issues that need to be discussed as well. The equipment used in mice is much smaller than it is in humans. There may be errors when it comes to sizing. This may lead to long term damage. Other issues are those related to personality. Changing or modifying memories will lead to a different perception of something. If someone that is not a good person receives this treatment, they might begin to percieve their actions as something positive rather than feeling the effects. 

Adamczyk, A. K., & Zawadzki, P. (2020). The memory-modifying potential of optogenetics and the need for neuroethics. NanoEthics, 14(3), 207-225.

Chen, B. K., Murawski, N. J., Cincotta, C., McKissick, O., Finkelstein, A., Hamidi, A. B., ... & Ramirez, S. (2019). Artificially enhancing and suppressing hippocampus-mediated memories. Current Biology, 29(11), 1885-1894.