Boomers, You Might Soon Be Able To Get Rid Of Your Bad Memories

By Boomeryearbook.com
How many times do you wish you could forget that horrible memory that just keeps haunting your dreams? We all have those moments in our lives that we try very hard to forget. Well, good news!! You might not have to try too hard in the near future.

Eleven neuroscience researchers, ten from the United States and one from the Czech Republic, have identified a particular enzyme that they think may be directly associated with the storage of unpleasant memories. This enzyme is called PKMzeta. In December, 2008, the researchers think it is highly possible that if they injected an inhibitor into the PKMzeta enzyme, it could erase all or most of your bad memories.

Your brain is like a computer except in the way it stores and processes information. While the computer uses a hard disk to store information, a central procession unit (CPU) does all the processing. Your brain, on the other hand, stores and processes information in the same place. It is based on this knowledge that these researchers decided see if there are different cells (neurons) that do different functions.

One of the researchers, Dr. Andre Fenton of SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York City, said that PKMzeta was found to store memories that were very highly detailed; however, those that we treasure were not distinguishable from those we would like to put into the trash. Dr. Fenton, also, stated that should this procedure become fully developed, some seriously debilitating negative memories could be targeted and erased to free the person who had the experience. He noted, also, that this procedure could be used to treat depression, stress and addiction among other mental and/or emotional problems.

At this stage of research, it is found that using the inhibitor consistently goes a long way in erasing memories in the neocortex of the brain where the PKMzeta is located. Your long-term memories formerly considered stable and permanent could be gone within a flash. The experiments that were performed revealed that with consistent application of a PKMzeta inhibitor, these memories are quickly erased.

The nature of how your brain works might present some challenges for the researchers in the future as they have to learn how to identify the cells that store unpleasant memories and those that store pleasant memories. There are still tests that need to be done to determine whether the destruction of a human brain cell will have any adverse effects on the person.

Are you excited at the prospect of this procedure being readily available? Which memory would you erase? Join us and let’s discuss this article in our forum at Boomer Yearbook. www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical psychologist, Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers connect for fun and profit.