[ExI] Even better memory modification

[BillK]

On Thu, Aug 28, 2014 at 9:56 AM, Anders Sandberg  wrote:
> Neat Nature paper where they use optogenetics to flip the emotional valence
> of a location:
> http://www.wired.com/2014/08/scientists-turn-bad-mice-memories-into-good
> http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13725.html
>
> This is separate from the earlier reconsolidation experiments that can
> destabilize memory traces or change their content. Those experiments are
> pretty interesting, although it is chillingly easy to induce false memories
> without any biomedical tools - just a bit of psychology. At least you notice
> when you get kinase inhibitors or fibre optics in your skull.
>
> Of course, I was writing about it *years* ago (the academic smugly said):
> http://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/normativity-of-memory-modification.pdf
>


Good news and bad news.

Might help in post-traumatic stress disorder cases. But remembering
bad things as 'bad' serves a very useful function. i.e. Well, I won't
do that again!

The Ministry of Love could use this to make sure you really love Big Brother.
Changing how you feel about things you have done and things that other
people do to you, effectively changes you into a different person.

BillK