From: Joseph Adamson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Subject: Re: NYTimes.com: Brain Researchers Open Door to Editing Memory
 
I was thinking of the same film, one of Charlie Kaufman's gems. The 
whole presumption that erasing negative memories is a good thing begs 
the question. Negative memories and affects are not necessarily bad. 
Both our positive and negative affects have evolved the way they have 
for a reason, though it is arguable that certain negative ones, such as 
fear (ie, anxiety), might be more suitably set for triggering at a 
higher threshold.

Joe

Ivan Nunes wrote:
> Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, with Jim Carrey and Kate
> Winslet) deals with the issue of deleting memories. It's a fine movie.
> 
> On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 9:07 PM, Norman Holland <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> 
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Johanna Tabin <[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 12:22 AM
>> Subject: Re: NYTimes.com: Brain Researchers Open Door to Editing Memory
>> To: Discussion Group for Psychology and the Arts <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>
>> This message was originally submitted by [log in to unmask]  (110 lines)
>> ------------------
>> I think that this exchange ought to be shared by The Sphinx. It is such a
>> superb example of the current preoccupation with scientism.
>>
>> Priscilla Butler wrote:
>>
>>> Interesting, yes!
>>> But even if one could pick and choose specific memories to erase, the
>>> effects of the event and subsequent associations from its moment in time to
>>> the point of erasure would remain to impact the system. Otherwise, wouldn't
>>> we already have a lot of very happy, un-traumatized people moving through
>>> the memory lapses and losses of dementia and other cognitive problems...?? I
>>> don't believe that ignorance is bliss when we have an unconscious.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Priscilla Butler
>>>
>>>
>>> Norman Holland wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi, All,
>>>>
>>>> The NYTimes article Murray has just sent is fascinating. From a
>>>> psychoanalytic standpoint, it offers hints of a neurochemical basis for the
>>>> repression of memories, but that is far off, if ever. More interestingly, if
>>>> the neuroscientists weaken just one pervasive neurochemical molecule, do
>>>> they have any control over which or how many memories are obliterated? Could
>>>> I get rid of an unpleasant memory from 1950 but keep a pleasant one from
>>>> 1953?
>>>>
>>>> --With warm regards,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Norm
>>>> Norm Holland
>>>>
>>>> Check out my blog, "Your Brain on Culture" at
>>>>
>>>> <http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/this-is-your-brain-culture>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 7:24 AM, Murray Schwartz <
>>>> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>    The New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/>E-mail This
>>>>    <
>>>> http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=goto&page=www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/health/research&pos=TopRight-EmailThis&sn2=deadcc7e/5434850&sn1=9bd7f9f2/7016809f&camp=foxsearch2009_emailtools_1011072b_nyt5&ad=500DOS_88x31_b&goto=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efoxsearchlight%2Ecom%2F500daysofsummer
>>>>    *This page was sent to you by: * [log in to unmask]
>>>>    <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>>>
>>>>    Message from sender:
>>>>    Dear Psyarters, Just think (think?), our kids can become memory
>>>>    editors! Warm regards, Murray
>>>>
>>>>    *HEALTH / RESEARCH * | April 06, 2009
>>>>    *Brain Power: Brain Researchers Open Door to Editing Memory
>>>>    <
>>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/health/research/06brain.html?emc=eta1
>>>>> *
>>>>
>>>>    By BENEDICT CAREY
>>>>    An influx of money and talent into neuroscience has led to an
>>>>    experimental drug that could block certain memories.
>>>>
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> 

-- 
Joe Adamson
McMaster University