Memories of Trauma Could Be Adjusted, According to Neuroscientist

A leading neuroscientist has proposed that memories of past trauma could soon be “dialed down” in the brain, potentially freeing people from their haunting effects.

The same techniques could provide tools for those struggling with addiction, helping them manage cravings, as well as possibly restoring memories lost to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or amnesia.

In his new book, How to Change a Memory, Professor Steve Ramirez delves into an area of science that resembles concepts from sci-fi films, like *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* and *Total Recall*.

As he narrates both his experiments on rodents at Boston University and his personal grief over the loss of his lab partner Xu Liu, he indicates that the ability to rewrite human memories might soon become a reality in modern medicine.

Ramirez shared with the Daily Mail that he has pinpointed specific memories in mice using light-activated brain cells.

His team then manipulated these memories by implanting false ones and recovering those considered lost.

The results were, according to him, “pretty amazing,” suggesting that similar outcomes may be achievable in humans.

He explained that researchers have successfully restored memories once thought irretrievable, which challenges traditional views on memory.

“Recalling a memory isn’t like hitting ‘Save’ in Microsoft Word,” he noted. “Each time you remember, the memory alters a bit. It’s a reconstructive process.” In essence, we pull a memory from our mental library, and while it’s front and center, details may inadvertently change.

According to him, manipulating these memories through scientific approaches could be relatively straightforward.

He suggested using drugs to target specific memory-holding cells, along with cognitive behavioral therapy or positive cues to help facilitate the changes.

“None of that breaks any laws of physics. There’s just more research needed to reach that stage,” he stated, emphasizing that this science won’t erase memories.

Instead, he explained, we might be able to tone down emotional aspects that can be debilitating or, conversely, enhance positive components associated with memories.

However, he acknowledged the potential for misuse, cautioning that there could be risks of manipulating memories for profit or marketing purposes.

Ramirez expressed concern that this knowledge might be exploited to manipulate consumer behavior, like how certain ads embed themselves in our minds.

Despite the ongoing research, he understands that fully grasping the brain cell patterns involved is still a work in progress.

Yet, he believes that understanding how traumatic memories are recalled will enable more targeted interventions for humans.

There have already been demonstrations in places like Geneva where addiction is being addressed in a similar way, and Ramirez sees potential for resetting the brain to a healthier state.

However, he emphasized that the most significant advantage would be the ability to recover “lost” memories, especially in cases like Alzheimer’s.

“I think that’s the mini Holy Grail of all this—restoring what we thought was lost, particularly something as valuable as memory,” he remarked. “We have a lot of research ahead of us, but that’s the direction in which we seem to be heading.”

His personal insights about memory’s malleability also helped him cope with his lab partner’s untimely passing. “I’ve come to terms with memory shaping who I am today, for better or worse,” he remarked. “I’ve faced difficult moments in my past, whether they involve loss or addiction, but I wouldn’t change them; they’ve helped me grow.”

After losing Xu Liu, Ramirez frequently experienced lucid dreams about him—dreams where he could control scenarios—and he now believes these dreams were his mind’s way of offering him hope.

“I aim to honor my friend, the heartbeat of this book, while also doing justice to our shared memories,” he concluded.

How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past by Steve Ramirez is published by Princeton University Press.