Mickey
Aug27-06, 05:12 PM
http://www.physorg.com/news75883856.html
Scientists at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center found a molecule that strengthens synaptic connections. By inhibiting this molecule, they can prevent connections from being maintained and "erase" them. They claim to have erased memories in people that are between a day and a month old!
The article makes the astounding analogy that it's like erasing data from a computer disc. Brains are not quite "machine readable" yet, the way computer discs are. However, we're always getting closer, of course.
I just wonder how they administered the molecular inhibitor. Did they apply it locally to a few synapses or systemically as a drug? I'd think the idea of having stuff that inhibits synaptic strength just swimming everywhere around in a person's body would be pretty bad.
Scientists at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center found a molecule that strengthens synaptic connections. By inhibiting this molecule, they can prevent connections from being maintained and "erase" them. They claim to have erased memories in people that are between a day and a month old!
The article makes the astounding analogy that it's like erasing data from a computer disc. Brains are not quite "machine readable" yet, the way computer discs are. However, we're always getting closer, of course.
I just wonder how they administered the molecular inhibitor. Did they apply it locally to a few synapses or systemically as a drug? I'd think the idea of having stuff that inhibits synaptic strength just swimming everywhere around in a person's body would be pretty bad.