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Scientists Say They’ve Developed a Pill to Erase Memories While You Sleep

Oct. 18, 2012 8:55am Liz Klimas

Stanford University Researchers Manipulate Traumatic Memories in Mice While They Sleep, See Promise for PTSD Treatment

(Image: Shutterstock.com)

Sometimes in one’s life, there are moments that you may wishes to forget. For the more than 7.7 million patients suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, this wish could not be more apparent.

With researchers long trying to find techniques and medications to help mitigate some of the effects for those with PTSD, scientists at Stanford University think they’ve developed a way to manipulate these fears without having to dredge up the painful memories as some techniques currently require.

The researchers announced their findings a study with mice at the at the Society for Neuroscience, according to Nature. They believe their research could ultimately lead to an ability to erase memories, or at least the negative response to certain memories, while a patient is sleeping.

Nature states that some therapy to help patients face their fears include repeatedly recalling a memory in a “safe” environment where a psychiatrist or other physician can help them begin to control the effects of triggers that call up the painful thoughts. Lead Author Asay Rolls is reported as saying this technique can lead to PTSD relapse as patients might begin to associate the positive effects with being in the psychiatrist’s office.

In her team’s research, Rolls trained mice to fear the smell of jasmine. Mice were conditioned to fear electrical shocks to their feet upon smelling the chemical, even when no shocks were administered. Some mice in the study continued receiving shocks. Others not receiving shocks eventually overcame their fear, but the researchers found when placed in a different cage, they relapsed at the scent. A third treatment group was given a drug that would block production of a protein in an area of the brain that stores traumatic memories — the basolateral amygdala. While sleeping, the mice were exposed to the jasmine. When the mice were awake, the researchers saw reduced fear when exposed to the chemical — even when they were transported to different cages.

Nature reports University of Michigan sleep researcher Gina Poe saying she thinks the drug is preventing the memory from being “re-stored in the same way as it was before.”

“The idea that you can actually erase memories during sleep, that you can manipulate them,” Rolls said, according to Nature. “It’s exciting.”

As other scientists are calling this research “promising,” with further studies the team could conceivably create a pill or medication including the protein blocker used in the mice study that could be paired with PTSD treatment.

(H/T: Gizmodo)

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Comments (80)

AmericanStrega
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:40am
How do they know the mice were having nightmares about being shocked and smelling jasmine? Maybe in the mice world being shocked and smelling jasmine is against their religion or maybe an aphrodisiac. Or did the researchers put the little critters on the couch and question them? Until researches can speak Mouse I cannot believe they, the researchers, have a clue.

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Dagnabbit5
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:13am
“But I saw X government agent do X bad thing and something needs done about it. What, take this pill with this water? Sure. “Gulp”. But we have to get back to ……what was I talking about?”

The future?

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NoNannyState4me
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:59am
Great, Zombie pills. And sure enough, a bunch here are ready to sign up for a dose… What a surprise.

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- MarsBarsTru7
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:34pm
  Because who needs God or psychology when we can just take a pill to forget what causes us trouble? I mean, religion and therapy are outdated really. Who needs them? I can just take a pill and make all the bad stuff go away…
  
  It’s like super Paxil/Zoloft/Prozac. Not only does it change the way you feel, it actually removes the source of anxiety – memory.
  
  Report this comment
- sgtstubbs
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 1:35pm
  You gotta have some of these if you have 4 exes and they need to forget that they were married you.
  
  Report this comment
Maxim Crux
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:50am
Scary. Memories serve an important purpose, they are what makes old people wise teachers. Marxist made this pill. Will probably be made mandatory or put into food without the knowledge of the people some day.

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Ilikepeople
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:23am
We’ll know the power of Abraham’s God, and even God’s God.

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Ilikepeople
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:21am
It strikes for the Great River just as well as it strikes in the west with homes standing empty, because in the east you don’t dwell in your houses.

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Ilikepeople
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:15am
Because lightning strikes in the east and reflects in the west.

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SocialistSlayer
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:14am
So, It will erase my Horrible memories of Communist obama?? Sign me up !

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- Ilikepeople
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:19am
  I’m sure someone has the dim idea to try to erase religion too.
  
  Report this comment
- nonofmybiznez
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:37am
  Maybe it could erase the memories of terrorists who want to kill people. Make them forget their hatred. Or, could it be used against us in a re-education camp? Just sayin be careful…with every good thing may come something bad.
  
  Report this comment
- floridareader
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:46am
  @socialistslayer
  I just got the exact same thought, soon to be memory… erasable memory.
  
  Report this comment
- mikem1969
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:47am
  So this is what they have been using to keep the libs and progressives brainwashed.
  
  Report this comment
joshcomm
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:13am
I think the scary part is perhaps in fact the government can force you to take this pill (say perhaps to cure PTSD) and keep continuing your taking it until you lost ALL memory. Then all they would have to do is ‘reprogram” your mind to be a “worker drone,” an “army drone,” a “miner drone,” or anything they want you to be. It is scary in thought to think of this, but with our own government killing American citizens without fair trials by weaponized drone strikes, now monitoring citizens via TSA, eye scanners, drones, etc., the next logical steps are to mark the citizens with a numbering system, and do it worldwide (forehead or hand)..

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SquidVetOhio
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:12am
Can I get one to just forget the last 4 years?

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- joshcomm
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:31am
  If you don’t vote this November for the right candidate (did I mention Romney?), then you’ll need another to erase the next four years. The sad thing is, when you do wake up, you’ll see another socialistic nation, that will be divided and torn apart, not the America we know now.
  
  Report this comment
Ducky657
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:05am
This pill isn’t necessary in America because most of us are so invested in pop culture that we can’t remember what happened four years ago. If this wasn’t true do you think anyone with a brain would vote for Barack Obama? This guy made more promises such as dealing with illegal immigration in his first 100 days, closing GITMO in his first 100 days, reducing unemployment to 5.4%, and reducing the deficit by 50% in his first term. What he did do was refuse to enforce immigration laws and repealed don’t ask/ don’t tell! Wake up Sheeple–a vote for anyone but Mitt Romney is a vote for Barack Hussein Obama!

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EtchASketch
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:43am
Blaze, what is a “devloped?” Don’t your editors have spell-check at least?

I guess you’re just trying to keep it dumbed down from the Tea brains ’round here.

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- blanco5
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:50am
  That’s right Blaze—-you need to be perfect b/c geniuses like etcha aren’t able to make that mental leap in their minds. I mean, “devloped” looks just like turtle, so shame on you Blaze!
  
  Report this comment
- Dan_o
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:45am
  The editing on the site is extraordinarily bad, unreadable for the most part.
  
  Report this comment
blanco5
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:42am
At no time would this EVER be used for sinister reasons…..naaaaaaah.

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justangry
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:37am
Yeah big pharmaceutical companies’ cures for PTSD often have dangerous side effects like suicide, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, etc… But I suppose all those are better than euphoria.

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- woodyee
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:59am
  I find the whole thing creepy. Imagine if common criminals (alright, or politicians) got hold of this drug…
  
  Report this comment
- justangry
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:21am
  Exactly. The fact scientists are actively researching such a drug is kind of creepy.
  
  Report this comment
JimL
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:34am
“…Physicians acting either under duress from state officials or having been convinced by such regimentation that this behavior is justified, are no longer free to resist these darkest of evils.
How It All Began
The Soviets have a long history of experimenting…”
http://www.haciendapub.com/medicalsentinel/communist-use-american-pows-human-guinea-pigs-part-i-korean-experiment

“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact (spoken by VP Biden at the 2012 Debate).”

This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain “religious employers.” That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to “Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital,” or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served (response by USCCatholicBishops).
http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-163.cfm

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Mr.Fitnah
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:29am
Think of all the time you will save now that you wont have to do all that drinking.

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- kadster01
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:33am
  What I would like to forget IS all that drinking.
  
  Report this comment
Eastinfection
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:26am
Can’t wait till the “date-rapers” get a hold of this…

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- objectivetruth
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 1:36pm
  Yeah you got that right.Worse yet is a terrorist cell.They already drug their victims so they can’t identify them.They have no concious memory.They however are left with the marks and aftereffects of their tortures.This goddam* pill will be used by them to facilitate their long awaited brainwashing scam.Now not only can they commit fiduary fraud and torture .They can attempt to erase the targets memories of their real parents and past.I swear I hope these fuc((( researchers die a horrible painful death and soon.
  Shes exicted about the prospect.I’m totally thoroughly enraged.
  
  Report this comment
SamIamTwo
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:24am
Soylent Green days are coming soon. Want a ******* little man.

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- SamIamTwo
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:29am
  *******? Seriously…A thin, crisp wafer often eaten with cheese or other savory toppings.
  
  Report this comment
- woodyee
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:01am
  Rhymes with “tracker”
  
  Report this comment
- AmericanStrega
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:33am
  You have to use the word “Saltine” to get past the moderator or whatever he/she/it is.
  
  Report this comment
Detroit paperboy
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:16am
I think Biden is on it……idiot .

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Eastinfection
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:11am
Obama takes one of these right away whenever he reads the Constitution.

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Comeandtakeit
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:06am
We already have a “drug” like that. It’s called “old age”. I’d tell you about it if I could remember where I put that mind I lost.

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EtchASketch
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:04am
It would seem that all the tea brains have already tried this pill – they seem to forget that Romney is not a conservative, and is king flip flop.

And I want one to erase the image of Paul Ryan “working out” from my memory. LOL at his marathon claim, too!

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- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:16am
  I love how, every election cycle, lefties suddenly get very concerned over whether or not the candidate I’m supportiing is Conservative enough. The answer is that he is 1000 times the man that your candidate is. We can work with Mitt to improve the few places where he comes up short, the alternative is irredeemable in every way.
  
  Report this comment
- EtchASketch
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:31am
  Sounds like you vote out of opportunity rather than conviction.
  
  Cold fish, buddy. A spine like jelly.
  
  Report this comment
- QuincySmith
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:41am
  sketcher;
  
  You are talking about oblama, right?
  
  Report this comment
- Chromo200
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:03am
  My tea brain is still functioning. I have a choice of two and I can’t stomach Obama. At lest Romney has nicer wife. The third party will only will give obama the edge .. we have been down this road .. plus Johnson is a Jerk, and Paul may die in office
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:49am
  Hey Sketchy…
  
  “And I want (a pill) to erase the image of Paul Ryan “working out” from my memory”
  
  Why?.. is your hand getting tired? try Vaseline…
  
  Report this comment
RIGS
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:03am
Send a couple of bottles to the white house marxists.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:00am
If it’ll erase my memory of the Marxist bastard currently dismantling capitalism and our constitution I’ll take it.

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:03am
  No, that nightmare will remain, this will be abused by the feds and local governments to keep the people under their thumb.
  
  Report this comment
- QuincySmith
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:43am
  Slayer;
  
  You NEVER want to forget what is happening. If you do, it will happen again.
  
  Report this comment
- EtchASketch
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:08am
  Snowleopard is correct. Just as Obama took advantage of the foot in the door that Bush got.
  
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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 2:48pm
  QUINCY Good point,I guess my rage gets the best of me at times it’s just that I know what his plan for America is and his defeat is critical.
  
  Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 8:59am
Prior to 1991, didn’t Russians just use vodka to help forget having the heel of the Communist boot on their necks?

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- gryffn
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:18am
  And here we are again….
  
  Report this comment

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