Slashdot Mirror
Scientists Discover Way To Reverse Memory Loss
electricbern writes "Scientists have accidentally discovered how to reverse memory loss by stimulating a specific part of the hypothalamus. Good news for people with Alzheimer's and those who just forgot where they left the car keys."
I wonder whether there's a specific herb that's bad for that part of the brain, either eaten, drunk or smoked. Could be a good way to get through life's many best-forgotten moments.
Or, for those living the dream, maybe there's some herb that's good for that part of the brain.
I know I'd prefer that to going under the knife or taking a pill with some synthetic stuff no one ever tried before.
--
make install -not war
-- how to eat
-- how to dump
-- how to wipe
-- how to bathe
-- how to relax
-- how to drive
-- how to ride a bike
-- etc...
What is there to remember?
Maybe it's not mere repetition, but intensity of act of repetition (not (bad) counting sex, or hemorrhoids, and other unpleasant things...) that helps us remember?
But, is there any proof that Alzheimer's victims forgot how to have sex? Swear, etc? (Not talking about those with stroke-like side-effects such as total motor or vocal or sensory failure...)
Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
Over the years, he's taken quite a selection of prescribed psychoactive drugs, in varying dosages. Interestingly, my observation is that the personality distortions my friend has shown have always been more closely tied to dosage factors than which drug he's been taking. I've seen him stark, raving mad - enraged - depressed - zombied - manic (uncontrollably so); and I've seen him quite normal. Seems that once they get his dosage down pat, however, it still needs re-tweaking as his mind/body adapt to the chemical changes.
There were a couple years there where I didn't want to even hear about him. Even knowing that it was not his choice but the medications he is obliged to take, it made it hard to preserve our friendship at times.
I totally agree that a person's personality is strongly tied to their body chemistry. I have personal experience with chemotherapy, a variety of psycho-active drugs, and kidney failure. What I was amazed to discover was how much these changes to my body chemistry altered my personality. I am mostly back to my old self, but with new respect for how different I could be and how much of personality is based on chemistry.
As computer nerds we are likely to think of the brain as a Turing computer. The hardware and environment don't matter, just the programming. So we assume that someone's personality is entirely determined by the capacity of their brain computer, their experiences, and conscious decisions.
But the brain's mental state is sensitive to the chemical environment influenced by the other organs and glands. Seeing how changes in kidney function changed my mental abilities, I think maybe the Egyptians were not so silly to consider the kidney and liver to be as important as the brain for carrying a person's soul.
The experience has also made me more tolerant of other personalities. I could be those people even with my own brain but a different set of organs. I wonder if there have been any studies of personality change after liver and kidney transplants. What would happen if we could someday perform a brain transplant. Should we consider the soul and identity to transfer with the brain or with the body, or is a new combination a new person?
Speaking as someone with crap memory as a result of a head injury, I wouldn't risk it.
As someone also with crappy memory due to a head injury, I survived a Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI, I'd be willing to take part in a study to investigate whether something like this would help me.
fortunately most of the effects in my case were temporary, but I still have problems.
Unfortunately unless there's a breakthrough more than likely in my case it's permanent.
When tinkering with the brain, unintended consequences can be severe, and nobody seems to really give a crap about those unintended consequences except for the person who has to deal with them.
I look at it the oppose to you, because of people like you people like me are being prevented from seeing possible breakthroughs in neurology, oh and cancer treatment.
Leave well enough alone is usually the best motto when it comes to the noggin, unless your life and disability is too intolerable so you're willing to take any chance.
Not only is my life so intolerable I'd be willing to take a change, but I'd leap at such a chance. If I weren't so chickenshit I'd have ended my suffering years ago.
FalconShould there be a Law?
Now you'll have to pee in a cup before SAT exams and Jeopardy tournaments. Wonder if kids fry their brains on a marathon caffeine study binge followed up with a hit of this before their exams.
Even neater is the possibility of temporarily removing memories and then bringing them back later, something like spy work or undercover jobs. Give someone valuable information, wipe it... get them to negotiate with someone and agree to remember it after payment is sent. Then they give him a shot of the stuff... whooops, been screwed, he never know it at all! Dead spy... happy rich boss. Lotta potential here.
Cwm, fjord-bank glyphs vext quiz
I can relate to what you're saying. I was hit by a jeep while crossing the street (at a pedestrian crosswalk, thank you) when I was in high school. I had memory problems after that, and slowed cognition, though I seemed to recover fully after a few months. Oddly, I lost my memory two years after that. I still have a terrible memory -- 6 months after I went to India (after my memory loss) I exclaimed "I've been to India?" after being told about the trip. I could go on forever, but it would be a long story. If you ever see a book called "Some Observations - What you can learn by losing your memory" you can read all about it. (Not yet written/published, btw.)
Back to the point. I've very cautious with what I attempt. I'd rather be who I am than try everything to be a "normal" someone else. I've found ways to get a lot out of having no memory, and I think I've gotten more out of life because of it. I'm not saying that no one would pursue these treatments, I'm just agreeing with the parent that sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. And for such odd situations, it's hard to get enough of a sample of people who can tell you what it is like (since it can affect who you are, which affects you ability to declare what it was like.)
What comes first, finding a teacher or becoming a student?