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Drug Deletes Fearful Memories

Al writes "Technology Review has an article about a common drug that seems to 'delete' painful memories related to a fearful experience. Experiments carried out by neuro-scientists at Emory University show that propranolol, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, can suppress the emotional part of a fearful memory. The results, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggest a new way to treat anxiety disorders. In recent years, scientists have discovered that the simple act of remembering a past experience requires that the memory be consolidated once again. And both animal research and some human studies have shown that during re consolidation, long-term memories — once thought to be fairly stable — can be more easily meddled with."

3 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Eternal Sunshine by Caboosian · · Score: 0, Troll

    How can the drug possibly discriminate between good and bad memories, or for that matter, any memories at all?

    Easy, the drug is racist.

  2. Re:A boon to higher education by davester666 · · Score: 0, Troll

    I know this is in extremely poor taste, but...

    It's the new morning-after rape drug!

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  3. Re:And this is a Good thing!? by kd5zex · · Score: 1, Troll

    Now suppose that you and your family were kidnapped from your home at gun point, and you had to watch while unspeakable things were done to them and to you.

    I think this would 'teach' someone to go buy their own gun.