Scientists Erase Memory

One of my favorite movies of recent years has been Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. After a passionate but troubled relationship, Clementine played by Kate Winslet, finds an experimental doctor who can erase all of her memories of her boyfriend, Joel (Jim Carrey). After Joel finds out, he heads for the doc too, wanting an erasure for himself. The rest of the movie is a surreal trip through Joel's mind and his memories of Clementine.

It appears this 2004 movie wasn't far off from the truth. India has a great English language newspaper, The Times of India, where I read this article :

"In a discovery which could have far reaching consequences

in not-distant-future, researchers have been able to wipe

out a single specific memory from brains of rats using a

drug, leaving all other recollections intact. . ."

The article talks about the drug's benifits in treating sufferers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I too could see the benifit in that, but just think of all the abuses a drug like this could have. Would it really take much to reach the point where you or I would take it once or twice or more in a lifetime, just for a release from the pain of a memory.

At least for me, during the initial suffering of some loss, the prospect of erasing the memory would be welcome. But without the pain of life and making mistakes I would never learn about myself, others, the world, I wouldn't be who I am today. Usually that learning doesn't take place until the pain abates, and I can look more honestly at its cause and then learn something.