Good point Liz. You are so smart...and rational. stemcell
On Oct 24, 4:16 pm, "Liz Purkrabek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > "All memories, including the painful emotional memories, have their > purposes. We learn great lessons from those memories or experiences so we > can avoid making the same kinds of mistakes again, and help us to adapt down > the road," Tsien said in a telephone interview on Thursday. > > This man has evidently never been raped. What great lesson is there to be > learned from a rape that is worth the act? > > Liz > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of CrossBow > Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:17 AM > To: Memphis Freethought Alliance > Subject: Scientists find way to erase memories in mice > > Scientists find way to erase memories in mice > By Will Dunham, Reuters > Thu Oct 23, 4:40 PM EDT > It seems like a movie plot, but scientists have developed a way to > erase specific memories in mice while leaving others intact and not > damaging the brain. > > By manipulating levels of an important protein in the brain, certain > memories can be selectively deleted, researchers led by neurobiologist > Joe Tsien of the Medical College of Georgia reported in the journal > Neuron. > > While some experts have suggested there could be value in erasing > certain memories in people such as wartime traumas, Tsien doubted this > could be done as it was in mice. Tsien also questioned the wisdom of > wiping out a person's memories. > > "All memories, including the painful emotional memories, have their > purposes. We learn great lessons from those memories or experiences so > we can avoid making the same kinds of mistakes again, and help us to > adapt down the road," Tsien said in a telephone interview on Thursday. > > The study focused on a protein called alpha-CaMKII involved in > learning and memory. The scientists manipulated alpha-CaMKII activity > in the brains of genetically modified mice to influence the retrieval > of short-term and long-term memories. > > Mice that were made to recall things such a mild electric shock at the > same time that the protein was turned up in their brain seemed to lose > the memory of the shock while not forgetting anything else, the > researchers said. > > "The human brain is so complex and dramatically different from the > mouse brain. That's why I say I don't think it's possible you can do > the same thing in humans," Tsien said. > > "However, if that happens in my lifetime, I wouldn't be surprised > either," Tsien added. > > The 2004 film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" explored the > idea of selectively erasing memories. Two former lovers undergo > procedures to wipe out the memory of one another after their > relationship falls apart. > > "If one wants to get rid of a bad relationship with another person, > and is hoping to have a pill to erase that person or relationship, > it's not the solution," Tsien said.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
