9 Comments

1. 1. Eric Zhang 10:23 PM 5/10/12

   It is excited that the experiment operated by neuroscientist Todd Sacktor and his former colleague Andre Fenton has showed a positive signal in which the compounde called ZIP injected into the hippocampus might help people forget or dull bad memories just as the what to the rat.However,there is also a problem arising along with the prospective result.Once this drug-like compound is exploited by terrorists,this compound will risk being illegally used as a compound to dominate other's mind.So,it is the responsibility of the government to limit the use of this drug-like compound-ZIP.

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2. 2. editdroid 10:42 AM 5/12/12

   I want to volunteer for human trials please. There are many things I want to forget. Like the times I saw an M. Night Shymalan movies.

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3. 3. GG 11:58 AM 5/12/12

   The research is flawed, because it claims more than it has proof for.
   
   They claim erasing "negative memories", which implies specificity for negative memories. The natural conclusion is that they do not erase positive memories, but there is no proof for this.
   
   There should have been a positive memory in the experiment, and show that this positive memory is not affected by the drug.
   
   What if this drug erased ALL fresh memories?
   
   Additionally, the experiments focus on freshly made memory. But long-term memory should be tested instead.
   
   Finally, rats do not have the cognitive capacity of humans. Extrapolating rat memory experiments to a person suffering from PTSD is ridiculous.
   

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4. 4. Algie 02:02 PM 5/12/12

   Seems like it would have implications for capital punishment. If the criminal did not remember commiting the crime there would be no reason to execute them.

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5. 5. jtdwyer in reply to GG 07:04 PM 5/12/12

   Good points! The video at least is an example of a "rat fed a drug that wipes out its long-term memory". I doubt its effects are limited to only 'fresh' memories, since even old memories are subject to repeated revision. As I understand, there is a biological distinction between short-term and long-term memories, but even long-term memories are not involatile.
   
   Are PTSD sufferers only haunted by painful memories, or have their ability to accurately and reliably store new memories also been affected? I don't think this has been clinically determined. I suspect that trauma also affects the process involved in storing new memories, so that even if completely eliminating all painful memories were possible, it would not prevent the painful interpretation of new experiences.

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6. 6. Bops in reply to Algie 10:09 PM 5/12/12

   No way, that would be an even better reason to execute a criminal.
   Not remembering doesn't mean not guilty, you do the crime, you are still responsible. Whatever, it's not an excuse for criminal behavior. It's way more dangerous.

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7. 7. sunspot 07:24 PM 5/14/12

   This article is incomplete. You can't call this science, when you give no indication of the effects of ZIP other then to make the grossly inaccurate assumption that because the rat doesn't avoid the shock zone that it forgot about the shock. The story doesn't answer many questions of the scientific reader. For example, if a dentist gives a patient gaseous anesthetic (nitrous oxide), does the patient forget the pain? Does the ZIP turn the rat brain to mush, so the rat is totally confused? Does the ZIP make the rat masochistic, so that it likes the pain and is running around hoping to get zapped?
   
   With so much speculation, and so little fact, I think we should forget this article. Pass the ZIP.
   

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8. 8. Benii in reply to editdroid 08:24 AM 11/16/12

   aaaaa

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9. 9. Benii 08:26 AM 11/16/12

   Hello, i really want to forget som bad memories wich keeps me in anxiety all the time, please please help me to find this, help me and manke me to forget those things i really cannot calm my self please hel me find this drugs, please answere me.

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