Drug Deletes Fearful Memories 247
Al writes "Technology Review has an article about a common drug that seems to 'delete' painful memories related to a fearful experience. Experiments carried out by neuro-scientists at Emory University show that propranolol, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, can suppress the emotional part of a fearful memory. The results, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggest a new way to treat anxiety disorders. In recent years, scientists have discovered that the simple act of remembering a past experience requires that the memory be consolidated once again. And both animal research and some human studies have shown that during re consolidation, long-term memories — once thought to be fairly stable — can be more easily meddled with."
A boon to higher education (Score:5, Funny)
Now they can make money re-educating the same students they educated before! Think of the student loan debt!
PropranoLOL (Score:5, Funny)
Any relation to propofol, a.k.a. milk of amnesia?
Drugs (Score:5, Funny)
propranolol
So this will turn your fearful memories into hilarious ones?
Ahh... (Score:3, Funny)
Now I can finally forget the day that ruined my life. It took me away from schoolwork, friends, family...it was horrible.
Now I can finally forget the day I joined Slashdot.
Dupe? (Score:5, Funny)
I've seen this story before. I think.
Re:A boon to higher education (Score:5, Funny)
Buy your expensive drugs (Score:4, Funny)
As Roosevelt said, (Score:5, Funny)
Re:And this is a Good thing!? (Score:3, Funny)
Hmmm you can record you life on a carry-on camera you carry around. A knowbot indexes it for you and after you agree with the indexing you swallow this drug. After that use google desktop to search you memories.
Re:A boon to higher education (Score:5, Funny)
Re:A boon to higher education (Score:2, Funny)
Re:And this is a Good thing!? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:A boon to higher education (Score:5, Funny)
russian perspective (Score:1, Funny)
In Russia this thing is known for centuries, they call it "vodka".
Re:side effects of propranolol (Score:3, Funny)
Re:side effects of propranolol (Score:1, Funny)
Worse side effects: I keep shitting my pants, but I don't know why!
Re:A boon to higher education (Score:2, Funny)
"As you age, the second thing to go is your memory. I forget what the first thing is."
I just saw that posted somewhere else, and I swear to god I forgot where it was.
Re:Buy your expensive drugs (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, but it's like a DELETE statement without a WHERE clause.
Thank the Lord... (Score:4, Funny)
I'll finally be able to wipe the image of Goatse from my mind.
Off-patent varieties (Score:5, Funny)
So this will turn your fearful memories into hilarious ones?
Just wait when it goes off-patent. You'll see knock-offs like propanorofl, propanolmao, propanolulz and propanocheezburgar.
Re:Drugs (Score:3, Funny)
Propranolol.
Lol your nightmares away.
With propranolol you'll be LOLing so hard you'll be ROTFLYAO.
Sides effects may include: dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, water retention, painful rectal itch, hallucination, dementia, psychosis, coma, death, and halitosis. Propranolol is not for everyone. Consult your doctor before use.