Memory Pill

[brave_new_world]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6595798/site/newsweek/

 

 

A new pill able to increase our memory is in experimental stages.

A memory destroying pill is also being worked on.

 

What do you guys think of this?

[badchad]

Seems that if it works and is relatively free of side effects then it's fine and progress marches on.

 

Our laboratory did some studies on ginkgo biloba a few years back. What we found was that rats given ginkgo biloba were able to leanr how to complete a maze in less sessions than those given placebo. Seems to work, unless it has horrendous side effects, I'm all for it.

[YT2095]

"here comes the Men In Black... Galaxy Defenders..."

 

oh dear, whatever next!

[5614]

A memory destroying pill is also being worked on.

 

dont sound very useful to me

[Rasori]

Does for spying and kidnappers/molesters.

[ecoli]

Watch "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" or "Paycheck."

[The Rebel]

dont sound very useful to me

 

I should imagine this would be used for government secrets . . .

 

I could do with the memory pill though. If something clicks it stays for time, but my recall . . . hopeless. Lucky to remember what I had for dinner yesterday.

[Deified]

The memory destroying pill could have tremendous implications for mental patients. Wouldn't people with post traumatic stress syndrome benefit from this. I suppose it would have to be very effective. If at some point in the distant future they are able to pinpoint memories and erase them, I certainly wouldn't mind being rid of some of the bad memories I have stored up inside.

[TimeTraveler]

The problem I see with memory pills is remembering to take them.

[Rasori]

That's gone if you're force-fed the first one.

[ed84c]

I think ill stick with errm, hmmm, ah! 'ginko biloba' and orange juice, no thats not it; MILK thistle extract.

[Kedas]

If you take both pills at ones what effect do you get?

(only the side effect I assume)

[syntax252]

Seems that if it works and is relatively free of side effects then it's fine and progress marches on.

 

Our laboratory did some studies on ginkgo biloba a few years back. What we found was that rats given ginkgo biloba were able to leanr how to complete a maze in less sessions than those given placebo. Seems to work' date=' unless it has horrendous side effects, I'm all for it.[/quote']

 

Why did you give a rat a placebo?

[Sayonara]

As a control, presumably.

[Kedas]

Why did you give a rat a placebo?

 

To confuse the rat and making it think it got the real stuff

 

I would think to keep the difference between them as little as possible.

It sure can't hurt to do it.

[syntax252]

To confuse the rat and making it think it got the real stuff

 

I would think to keep the difference between them as little as possible.

It sure can't hurt to do it.

 

I 'spose.

[-Demosthenes-]

I like my memory pills, I bought them on the net, they aren't fake, but they sure are sugary!

[Coral Rhedd]

The memory destroying pill could have tremendous implications for mental patients. Wouldn't people with post traumatic stress syndrome benefit from this. I suppose it would have to be very effective. If at some point in the distant future they are able to pinpoint memories and erase them, I certainly wouldn't mind being rid of some of the bad memories I have stored up inside.

 

If behavior had already altered due to the traumatic event, wouldn't you just struggle with feelings that you could not attribute to anything? Sort of the equivalent of repressed memory in a pill.

[Coral Rhedd]

The problem I see with memory pills is remembering to take them.

 

Thanks to this thread, I just remembered to take my Ginkgo.

[-Demosthenes-]

If behavior had already altered due to the traumatic event, wouldn't you just struggle with feelings that you could not attribute to anything? Sort of the equivalent of repressed memory in a pill.

If the memory was gone I don't see any problem, unless they want to remember it.

[Coral Rhedd]

If the memory was gone I don't see any problem, unless they want to remember it.

 

What I am getting at is that there are emotional consequences of traumatic events. For a person not to suffer those consequences they would have to take the wipe-out-memory pill immediately after the traumatic event. Otherwise they would experience emotions from the event perhaps and not know why.

 

I am not an expert on memory however but I have, in the course of work I have done, noted children who "repressed" memories of traumatic events but continued to suffer emotional damage. Would this mean that:

 

1. No memory can ever really be repressed and that it (memory of traumatic event) was available on some level?

 

2. A memory can be completely destroyed but still influence behavior because it caused reactions that are enforced by habit?

[Anonymous]

Maybie they could equip Ambulence teams/police stations and other places that would have to deal with people straight after the traumatic event with these pills therefore they could have them when it was needed

[Coral Rhedd]

That would be of enormous benefit to rapists and armed robbers. Even figuring out how dispense insurance payments from car accidents requires witnesses.

 

Since I have enough trouble retaining my own memories (ADD) I have little sympathy for forgetting pills. Every morning I get up and feel incredibly grateful for Adderall -- the remembering pill.

[pljames]

I am for it. I have been taught by rote,repeat,repeat ? oops! Now I am working with relate the thing you want to remember to something you can remember, interesting thought.

Paul

[Coral Rhedd]

And if you can't remember s**t? What then?

 

I am beginning to think that my ADD is meeting Alzheimer's. Perhaps I should start a new thread on memory stategies.