FORGET YOU
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That time you peed your pants in third grade. That time your boyfriend broke your heart. That time you hit a deer with your car. Some memories stay with you, try as you might to forget them. What if you could rid yourself of these memories? What if memory was a choice?
Scientists may well be on the way to creating a pill that can erase memories. And this isn’t like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-scientists claim to be able to eliminate a specific memory. The key is to target specific proteins in the brain, proteins that help us form memories by creating neural pathways between brain cells. Inhibit these proteins, inhibit the pathways, inhibit the memory of that terrible one night stand-at least that’s the thinking.
It’s far off, but perhaps not too far off. In the meantime we’re left with plenty of questions: Is it ethical? How does it feel? What’s the difference between a bad memory that we learn from, and one that is truly horrible?
And most importantly: Would you do it? Tell us below or @WIREDInsider.
