A photo from open sources
Researchers have taken the first step to creating artificial memories. Scientists were able to cause artificial mice memories by acting on the brain of rodents with chemicals and gene switches. Researchers say what’s done a step towards the creation of methods for manipulating human memory. “The most interesting thing about the experiment is what we really found areas of the brain that store traces of past events. That’s what it is memory, “quoted Edward Moser from the Sydney Morning Herald, Neuroscientist at the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology (NINT). The scientist explained that the technique is to track which neurons are activated with certain memories, and then switch connections between nerve cells, replacing ones memories of others. Scientists from NINT together with a group researchers from Massachusetts University of Technology conducted a series of experiments in which mice got into a box where they were exposed to weak current shocks. Colored markers on the walls of the box allowed rodents to remember in what conditions unpleasant situations occurred. Then the mice were transplanted to another a box where they were provided with food, shelter and water. Second box evoked positive emotions in rodents. After the mouse began to react differently to the situation in the first or second box, scientists tracked which neurons activated when positive and negative reactions of rodents to the situation. Manipulation of genetic markers and chemicals allowed them to switch connections between nerve cells, replacing “bad” memories are “good.” Mice that had memory modified, once in the first box, felt fine, were not afraid and were looking for food. Scientists are sure that unpleasant the memories of electric shocks in the first box were completely replaced by the positive experience gained by rodents in the second box. Researchers believe experiments will allow develop a technology for erasing unpleasant memories, as well as replacing them with positive experience gained in reality or crafted artificially. Dr. Moser sure that in humans this will be even easier than in mice, since the ability to imaginative thinking and creativity will make it easy to cause artificial images suitable to replace real memories.
Andrey SIDELNIKOV
