Drug Selectively Removes Rats' Memory

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."

Comments

Are they sure?

[LiquidCoooled]

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.

did it really "erase" memory?

[xappax]

The objective results are pretty inarguable, but the implication that the reason that the rats didn't fear the note they heard while drugged is that they had completely forgotten about it seems tenuous. The rats could just as easily become accustomed to the note, develop a different association with that note (like being drugged), or become unafraid of it for some other related reason.

The article supports the claim by saying the brain activity is different, but it seems that more complicated experiments would need to be done before it could really be claimed that memories could be wiped this way.

Re:did it really "erase" memory?

[JRaven]

the rats didn't fear the note they heard while drugged The rats didn't hear anything while drugged. The experiment goes

1. The rats hear tone 1 and suffer pain.
2. The rats are (or are not) given a drug.
3. Time passes...
4. The rats hear tone 2 and suffer pain.

The rats that are drugged then have no association of pain with the FIRST tone. So even if you think the drug was around to affect them for the second tone, that's not the tone that's "forgotten" -- both sets of rats have fears with the second tone.

The whole point is that the drug removes the association with the first tone AFTER the fact.

Re:obligatory

[jimstapleton]

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."

Oh no!

[Rob T Firefly]

A drug that selectively erases memories would be very oopen to misuse. I believe we should immediately institute proper measures to prevent our police, governments, and military forces from..

..what's that? A glass of orange juice? My favorite! Thank you, that's very kind.

Now then.. *gulp* ....what was I saying?

I am a test subject

[MyLongNickName]

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!