Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Drug Selectively Removes Rats' Memory

Posted by Hemos on from the there-is-nothing-to-see-here dept.

rednuhter writes "Nature online is reporting scientists have used drugs to selectively remove one memory while not affecting another. Musical tones were played to the rats and at the same time the subjects were given a mild electric shock. Half the study group were given the drug (not approved for use in humans) and then the experiment was repeated with a new tone. The following day the rats that had not been given the treatment were afraid of both tones while the treated half were only afraid of the second tone: the memory of fear of the first had been erased."

6 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. Are they sure? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are they sure the reason is so clearcut and simple?

    We took the entire study group and displayed both Tubgirl and Goatse to them, this made them all extremely nervous.
    We then took one half of the group and after injecting them with a drug (not approved for humans yet) and once again shown them goatse.

    The next day when we displayed goatse on the projector, only half the group were nervous.

    Hypothosis 1: The drug made them forget.
    Hypothosis 2: The repeated viewings made them immune to the shock (O RLY?)
    Hypothosis 3: They were still drugged up from yesterday to care about the shock.
    Hypothosis 4: The drug gave them super powers. Electricity makes them stronger.

    I, for one, hail our super electricity feeding super rat overlords.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
    1. Re:Are they sure? by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hypothosis 4: The drug gave them super powers. Electricity makes them stronger Super RAT powers? Will 'apt-get squeal' draw a GIANT ASCII PICTURE of a SUPER RAT? I'm scared. Really scared.
      --
      My blog
  2. Re:obligatory by mastershake_phd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Drugging all troops before combat will be much less expensive than paying for PTSD treatment.

    Ya, just don't ask them what happened.

    --
    Libertarian Leaning Political Discussion Forum.
  3. Re:obligatory by jimstapleton · · Score: 4, Funny

    actually, it looks like the drug is administrated /after/ the fact.

    So give it to them after combat, or they'll be even more stressed out...

    "I remember I kept all of a sudden being in combat, and have no idea how I got there or why. Those were the worst years of my life."

    --
    34486853790
    Connection too slow for X forwarding? Try "ssh -CX user@host"
  4. I am a test subject by MyLongNickName · · Score: 3, Funny

    Actually, this pill isn't just used for rats. I am also participating in a test of this drug. In fact, I am about to take my next dose soon!

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  5. Finally, an answer is in reach... by kemosabi · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... to the age-old question: "What would a movie that combined 'The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and 'Ben' be like?" Or perhaps it's "The Secret of Nim" meets "Fifty First Dates". Or even "Flowers for Algernon" crossed with "Memento". I, for one, welcome our new amnesiac rodent overlords.