NationStates Jolt Archive

So this week in Anatomy class, we discussed the human brain, and within the discussion we talked about Short term and Long term memory. When we talked about this, I was reminded of the neuralyzer from the Men in Black movies. For those of us who don't know what I'm talking about, just watch this clip.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LSjBWkvYvuU

It's basically an equipment used by the M.I.B. to erase at least short term memory of the target. Ever since I watched this film, I always wondered if it's possible to erase someone's short term memory without any long lasting physical or psychological problems or side effect. It would be a great way to have do overs. *nod* So what do you guys think, the ability to erase short term memory (without physical or psychological problems) Good idea or bad, and will we ever have the ability to do it?

Could be fun if one could erase specific memories like the absence of pants or the 1980-88 Presidency. :D

Could be fun if one could erase specific memories like the absence of pants or the 1980-88 Presidency. :D

Yeah, or the memory of certain people that screwed you over and sh*t. *nod* :p

I think we just came up with the next big Jim Carrey film.

O wait...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/

just wait till short term memory disappears for free when your older :) (with senility you get to make new friends everyday!)

just wait till short term memory disappears for free when your older :) (with senility you get to make new friends everyday!)

Yay Senility!

i have enough trouble remembering shit as it is, without some bastard coming along and fucking it up for me ;)

Could be fun if one could erase specific memories like the absence of pants or the 1980-88 Presidency. :D





...wait a minute...

So this week in Anatomy class, we discussed the human brain, and within the discussion we talked about Short term and Long term memory. When we talked about this, I was reminded of the neuralyzer from the Men in Black movies. For those of us who don't know what I'm talking about, just watch this clip.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LSjBWkvYvuU

It's basically an equipment used by the M.I.B. to erase at least short term memory of the target. Ever since I watched this film, I always wondered if it's possible to erase someone's short term memory without any long lasting physical or psychological problems or side effect. It would be a great way to have do overs. *nod* So what do you guys think, the ability to erase short term memory (without physical or psychological problems) Good idea or bad, and will we ever have the ability to do it?

read Tokyo Doesn't Love Us Anymore by Ray Loriga. very good book, and it deals with exactly this among other things.

So this week in Anatomy class, we discussed the human brain, and within the discussion we talked about Short term and Long term memory. When we talked about this, I was reminded of the neuralyzer from the Men in Black movies. For those of us who don't know what I'm talking about, just watch this clip.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LSjBWkvYvuU

It's basically an equipment used by the M.I.B. to erase at least short term memory of the target. Ever since I watched this film, I always wondered if it's possible to erase someone's short term memory without any long lasting physical or psychological problems or side effect. It would be a great way to have do overs. *nod* So what do you guys think, the ability to erase short term memory (without physical or psychological problems) Good idea or bad, and will we ever have the ability to do it?

We already have the technology...its called Tequila... LOL

We already have the technology...its called Tequila... LOL

Which is why I included no long term physical and psychological damage or side effects. :p

We already have the technology...its called Tequila... LOL

It comes in other forms, too. Television.

Which is why I included no long term physical and psychological damage or side effects. :p

Picky, picky, picky.

So this week in Anatomy class, we discussed the human brain, and within the discussion we talked about Short term and Long term memory. When we talked about this, I was reminded of the neuralyzer from the Men in Black movies. For those of us who don't know what I'm talking about, just watch this clip.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LSjBWkvYvuU

It's basically an equipment used by the M.I.B. to erase at least short term memory of the target. Ever since I watched this film, I always wondered if it's possible to erase someone's short term memory without any long lasting physical or psychological problems or side effect. It would be a great way to have do overs. *nod* So what do you guys think, the ability to erase short term memory (without physical or psychological problems) Good idea or bad, and will we ever have the ability to do it?

The instant that technology becomes available it will be widely abused, and with few cases of using it to good effect. Your memories are an important part of who you are, and if this technology existed it would give people the ability to potentially destroy the very person that someone else is.

And I know you said short-term memory, but if we invented that then long-term memory wouldn't be long after, if not preceding it. Yes there will be horrific memories that some people will want to erase, but the majority of sad or unhappy memories people work through and live through. This technology would offer a 'quick fix', and it would be overused for problems that would resolve anyway just because people can't be bothered to put the work or effort in.

I'm reminded of the scene in Eternal Sunshine in the waiting room of the clinic and someone is getting their memory erased because their cat died.

Ever since I watched this film, I always wondered if it's possible to erase someone's short term memory without any long lasting physical or psychological problems or side effect.

Of course this is possible, just let them think about something else and their short term memory will probably be erased (or filled with new data).
I assume there are also drugs that prevent new memories being made (stored in the LTM as the STM is erased automatically). The problem of course is the long lasting physical or psychological problems or side effects. I don't know if this will be possible as the stuff what memories are made of are probably pretty common in the whole brain, so if you influence the memory you will probably also have other effects.

just wait till short term memory disappears for free when your older :) (with senility you get to make new friends everyday!)

That begs the question of...

If you forget you have Alzheimer's does that mean you're cured?
:D