MIT successfully implant false memories

[SentinelMind]

Researchers at MIT have implanted false memories into the brains of mice, causing them to be fearful of an event that didn’t actually occur. This is a very important study that demonstrates just how unreliable memories can be, and goes a long way to explaining why humans regularly recall things that didn’t actually happen — such as alien abductions, or when giving eyewitness testimony that they believe to be true, but is actually a false memory.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/...teach-us-how-human-brains-form-false-memories

 

[Steyin]

I read that as "MTV"...

 

[KevanG]

MTV successfully implants false memories to make people think they used to play music.

 

[Ultimatehero]

I'm going to implant dog memories into my brother so he can be my puppy-brother!

 

[Gold Samurai]

Now to find out where they hide the cheese and discover why this mouse has father issues.

 

[Wadaltmon]

MIT: Rekall, Rekall, Rekall!

 

[GENERAL RAAM582]

I'm going to implant dog memories into my brother so he can be my puppy-brother!

This is pretty crazy, as a "forever alone" guy like myself I'd give myself epic memories with women.

Oh and Total Recall is near!

 

[Gold Samurai]

Mouse- You blew my cover!!!!

 

[Ultimatehero]

And Total Recall is near!

Seriously. Without a doubt. I don't want to say much, but I'm in the process of getting something started with a studio for the screen that is as much of a Total Recall experience as possible. I even defined it as such to them. And if that takes off? And with the rise in virtual reality technologies? We could be going through a lot of first-hand experiences. Also I'm not the first to propose this, there are other projects getting started all around Hollywood with a similar approach. It's not Total Recall, but it does seem to be like getting in at the ground floor. Something's in the "wave lengths" -- like Stephen King defined in 'Christine' of knowing when certain times are coming, Total Recall is coming.

 

[Schlosser85]

Inceptioned!

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I've heard stories of photoshopping pictures of adults when they were kids and they totally made up fake stories on the spot.

Seriously. Without a doubt. I don't want to say much, but I'm in the process of getting something started with a studio for the screen that is as much of a Total Recall experience as possible. I even defined it as such to them. And if that takes off? And with the rise in virtual reality technologies? We could be going through a lot of first-hand experiences. Also I'm not the first to propose this, there are other projects getting started all around Hollywood with a similar approach. It's not Total Recall, but it does seem to be like getting in at the ground floor. Something's in the "wave lengths" -- like Stephen King defined in 'Christine' of knowing when certain times are coming, Total Recall is coming.

You're a screenwriter? I totally didn't know that already.

 

[Ant-manic]

why would they do this?

 

[KevanG]

Why not? The NSA has to use all their budget or next year it gets cut. So might as well fund something neat.

 

[Doctor Evo]

why would they do this?

Why would they want to learn more about how the brain works? Gee, I don't know.

Why not? The NSA has to use all their budget or next year it gets cut. So might as well fund something neat.

...NSA? Do you mean the NSF?

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

More human than human is our motto.

 

[jmc]

I they able to implant a memory that Anne Hathaway was the first girl I made with? I don't care if it's fake, I just want the memory!

 

[Breogan]

This will never work on humans....
I just remembered I have to go run through my maze and get some yummy cheese!

 

[Xeno]

From the article, it seems the researchers didn't actually create false memories in the mice, they simply caused the mice to associate their memories of an environment with an electric shock. After that the mice quite sensibly showed fear when reintroduced into the place they associated with having their little bodies jolted with electricity. And since these are mice they're dealing with instead of people, there is no way of proving that they've been given false memories anyway. It's the equivalent of taking someone to a place, then showing them photos of that same place while hurting them. It forms an association in the mind and not real memories per se.

The only thing that study really proved is that life is hell for lab mice. Either some ass**** is shocking the **** out of them or they're being given cancer or Ebola or some other dread disease.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Joss whedon a dollhouse...realized.

 

[Doctor Evo]

From the article, it seems the researchers didn't actually create false memories in the mice, they simply caused the mice to associate their memories of an environment with an electric shock.

This seems to be an arbitrary distinction.

 

[Xeno]

This seems to be an arbitrary distinction.

Well, perhaps you can explain how the association of negative stimuli with a particular situation or environment is the equivalent of creating a false memory of something that happened in that environment? Because it seems to me that associations and actual memories are two separate and distinct things.

 

[SuperFerret]

I like how learning stuff seems to always go hand in hand with supervillain technology.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I want false memories of the Vancouver Canucks winning the 2011 Stanley Cup.

 

[Sawyer]

What if what we're experiencing right at this very moment is a false memory?

*falls out of chair*

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I want false memories of the Vancouver Canucks winning the 2011 Stanley Cup.

Then they can have a real reason to riot!