Although the scientific community is excited about the breakthrough, is it necessarily a good thing to remove our memories and alter our emotions?
For most of us, it’s difficult to live with bad memories. If the memory is related to a loved one, getting rid of it is something that we can only dream about.
However, the reality of erasing bad memories may not be too far in the future. Scientists believe they might have discovered a way of accomplishing this through an enzyme that plays a massive role in storing our long-term memories.
Even though the memory enzymes have only been studied in mice, experts are sure they can be used to remove bad memories from people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Scientists are naming these new enzymes Acetyl-CoA Synthetase 2 (ACSS2). Experts have found that when a memory is formed, the ACSS2 binds to memory genes along with other chemical groups.
Currently, the researchers are targeting mice, but believe that these discoveries will also help future doctors to treat and/or removing anxiety, depression and many other neuro-related problems.
Dr Philip Mews, who holds expertise in the field of Neuroscience and is one of the main leaders of the study, suggests that ACSS2 may be important when it comes to these types of disorders and those related to neurons in our brain.
He explained that when a memory has formed, the junction between two cells – or a synapse – is reconstructed. This is something which is controlled by the group of genes related to memory.
The study also suggested that when the levels of ACSS2 are lowered in mice, they noticed the synapse altered, meaning they were not creating a long-term memory.
With the development in its current state, it is difficult to tell when it will be tested on humans.
Although the scientific community is excited about the breakthrough, is it necessarily a good thing to remove our memories and alter our emotions?
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Memories, good and bad are what makes us who we are, so wouldn't removing them also means removing a part of us ? Because even if we don't understand at the moment when it's happening, every single thing that happens in life have as a purpose to teach us something that is essential, I personally believe that there is a blessing behind each hardship, and if we don't get the meaning of it now, maybe it will all make sense to us in 5, 10 or 20 years...
I also believe that pain, just like happiness, or love is fully part of life so it shouldn't be removed but accepted as such. I think that the main struggle with pain is that our natural instinct would be to try to protect ourself from it, and hide it somwhere deep down inside of us, and it's just my opinion but I think this could actually be a mistake. Because by trying to control something we have no control over, and refusing to accept it aren't we making it the center of our life ? making us blind from all the other blessing we have in life. Basically through acceptance comes peace of mind and it would allow us to think that even though we have this perticular thing that is causing us pain, we also have all of those other things in our daily life that are source of happiness. it just remind me of a poetry that says: "I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it." that would be basically the idea
with that being said I do all the contrary most of the time haha so it was just a thought :p
Following you.
"Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind" is my all-time favorite movie. If you haven't seen it, GO AND DO IT NOW. Its beautifully directed, fantastically done and all about this concept.
@thatgrlbeth Thank you! Remembered that I wanted to watch that movie, saved on imdb list now! ;)
Yes! One of the best things in the world is sharing things that make you happy. When people say you need to try this restaurant or watch this movie, they are really saying "You know what didn't make my life suck, this ______." "Maybe it could make your life suck less as well" and I think that's beautiful.
@thatgrlbeth, Upvoted and following you. Very wise words, very philosophical and positive. The world needs more people like you.
Thank you! That's one of the best compliments anyone could receive<3 Besides "Upvoted and following you." ; )
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