Fiction turns into fact: Canadian study says pill can erase negative memories

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sekio

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Researchers at the University of Montreal are saying the drug metyrapone can effectively prevent the recall of negative memories, reports Psych Central, an online mental health network.

"Metyrapone is a drug that significantly decreases the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that is involved in memory recall," explained the study's lead author, Marie-France Marin, a doctoral student at the university.

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Hard to believe.
If true, this would scare the shit out of me.
Don't want to erase any memories, good or bad, though I can imagine how people with certain traumas might want to erase them.
But would they really be erased, or just hidden?
How to target specific memories?
And what about the ethical questions?
 
^It simply distubs the recollection of emotional memories, it doesn't permanently erase them. Presumably it would be continued until the memory is effectively dealt with in a state of mind not punctuated with intense terrifying emotions. Cortisol is intimately involved in creating stressful flashbulb memories and their later vivid recall. The person could still consciously bring the memory to the surface albeit without the co occurring emotion. It can't be used to do something bad to somebody and then make them forget. Roofies would still be the drug of choice to do those types of things.

235360287471352662 said:
I have taken an anti-cortisol (adrenosterone) and noticed no amnestic effects. I am skeptical.
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I don't see anywhere where they mentioned profound memory loss as in the case of amnesia. Metyrapone also has much more convincing clinical research indicating it's a potent cortisol blocker. I experienced emotional detachment while taking adrenosterone which is seemingly an important part of its therapeutic benefits.

The interesting thing is even after the drug has cleared the system is that the negative emotions were still no longer prominent in the recollection of the memories which would indicate the possibility of sustained remission in PTSD without needing to continuously take a palliative medication.
 
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ferinox, good post!

I experienced emotional detachment while taking adrenosteroe which is seemingly an important part of its therapeutic benefits. The interesting thing is even after the drug has cleared the system is that the negative emotions were still no longer prominent in the recollection of the memories which would indicate the possibility of sustained remission in PTSD without needing to continuously take a palliative medication.
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Now you've got me wondering if I simply didn't notice editing my own memories while on it. Honestly (I took it for 6 weeks) I can remember nothing negative from that period of time.

Interesting shit here.
 
ferinox said:
The person could still consciously bring the memory to the surface albeit without the co occurring emotion.
Click to expand...

Interesting.
I wonder if it is possible to accept / forgive / emotionally and psychologically process traumatic memories without the associated emotions.
Like, under the influence, one might feel like it is easy to forgive.After all, there is no pain associated with the memory. It seems like one might feel that one had forgiven / processed a memory, but then when the same memory arises when not under the influence of the drug, suddenly it packs a punch for which one is unprepared.

I am not sure that I believe that one can grow in the same way while trying to contemplate emotionless facts.
 
Considering emotion is a driving force in the healing process of trauma, i would imagine it would be difficult for the person to 'grow', you wouldn't be overcoming the trauma, so much as acknowledging it without the associated pain.. it would still be there your just indifferent to it?

I do find this interesting regardless and i think it could be incredibly beneficial for some, even if it's temporary.. allowing them to understand the trauma without the pain, and then slowly coming back to it emotionally and been able to deal with it on a much more strengthened level.
 
I'm all into psychology shit, so I mean Freud says we store all our thoughts about bad memories and trauma into the subconscious, so even when we aren't thinking about we technically are. But I mean I think thats how our brain protects us, so is this pill going to work on the subconscious? I mean that leaves me a little skeptical. I doubt all that pain and trauma is going to be wiped away for people who have it on their everyday mind. Like i'd wanna remember some of it.
 
slimvictor said:
Interesting.
I wonder if it is possible to accept / forgive / emotionally and psychologically process traumatic memories without the associated emotions.
Like, under the influence, one might feel like it is easy to forgive.After all, there is no pain associated with the memory. It seems like one might feel that one had forgiven / processed a memory, but then when the same memory arises when not under the influence of the drug, suddenly it packs a punch for which one is unprepared.

I am not sure that I believe that one can grow in the same way while trying to contemplate emotionless facts.
Click to expand...

The article mentioned even after the drug cleared the system, the negative emotions connected to the memories were still absent. It needs a better study with more time away from the drug to fully understand its implications in treating trauma.


235360287471352662 said:
ferinox, good post!
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Thanks!

I'll also say that Patrick Arnold is one of the few names I respect in the supplement business and I do believe adrenosterone is an effective cortisol inhibitor. I just listen to a preponderance of clinical studies.
 
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mikemikenj said:
I'm all into psychology shit, so I mean Freud says we store all our thoughts about bad memories and trauma into the subconscious, so even when we aren't thinking about we technically are. But I mean I think thats how our brain protects us, so is this pill going to work on the subconscious? I mean that leaves me a little skeptical. I doubt all that pain and trauma is going to be wiped away for people who have it on their everyday mind. Like i'd wanna remember some of it.
Click to expand...

Freud was full of shit
 
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