Is it possible to erase painful memories from the brain?

Life memories, filled with joy, anger, love, hatred, and emotional wounds, are an integral part of each person's identity. But if one day you could choose to erase painful memories, would you want to try?

Painful memories can sometimes affect our mental well-being in the present. One day, we might choose to erase those painful memories; would you like to try? - Photo: AI

Erasing bad memories and keeping only the good ones sounds like something out of science fiction, but it's actually a completely real research direction for neuroscientists.

Leading the field is Steve Ramirez, a researcher at Boston University (USA), and one of the science explorers sponsored by National Geographic.

Memories can be altered.

According to Ramirez, the nature of memory is not as "rigid" as many people think. In fact, every time we recall a memory, the brain not only simply "retrieves" but also "overwrites" the information, similar to opening a document, editing it, and then clicking "Save as...".

This means that every memory can be altered over time, especially if "recalled" in different circumstances. This also served as the basis for Ramirez's famous 2013 work: he demonstrated that it is possible to "implant" a false memory into the brains of mice.

In the experiment, the research team used photogenetics to make neurons involved in memory sensitive to light. Then, mice were subjected to a mild electric shock inside a box that created a "painful" memory. The scientists could activate this memory at any time by shining a laser beam onto the brain region where the device was implanted.

Next, the team created a false memory: the mice were allowed to explore a "safe" box, then electrocuted in another location while the memory of the safe box was activated. The result: upon returning to the first box, the mice were frightened even though that location had never posed a threat. Thus, a "false" memory was registered in the mice's brains.

"We demonstrated that a memory that is currently being activated can be overwritten by a new experience. And the final version is what the brain retains," Ramirez explained.

Aimed at applications in the treatment of neurological diseases.

Although it is still in the preclinical stage and has been tested on animals, its potential for application in humans is enormous.

Ramirez and his team don't aim to "erase" memories, but rather to transform negative memories into positive experiences, which is particularly meaningful for people with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or those suffering from depression caused by traumatic memories.

Unlike experiments on mice, interfering with human memory wouldn't require lasers or brain implants. Instead, simple questions would be used to "activate" a memory, then using psychological therapy, music , or even scent, to "pair" that memory with a new positive emotion.

Not content with simply "overwriting" memories, Ramirez's team is also researching the possibility of "predicting" where memories will form in the brain even before an event occurs. "It's like predicting where lightning will strike before a storm arrives," he said, using an analogy.

If successful, this could help in the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or dementia by detecting brain regions that exhibit abnormal memory patterns.

Ramirez envisions a day when we will have a "Google Maps" of the brain, a map that accurately shows where positive and negative memories are stored, and even detects when a memory region is malfunctioning.

Although the technology is still in its early stages, Ramirez believes that the intersection between experimental science and science fiction is inevitable.

Neuroscience is only about 100 years old, incredibly young compared to physics, which is over 2,000 years old. But with the advances we're making today, one day we may learn how not only to understand memories, but also to modify and heal them.

MINH HAI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-the-xoa-ky-uc-dau-buon-khoi-bo-nao-20250618182106562.htm