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Pill to erase bad memories: Ethical furor over drugs 'thatthreaten human identity'

By David Derbyshire

A drug which appears to erase painful memories has been developed by scientists.

The astonishing treatment could help sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder and those whose

lives are plagued by hurtful recurrent memories.

But British experts said the breakthrough raises disturbing ethical questions about what makes us

human. They also warned it could have damaging psychological consequences preventing thosewho take it from learning from their mistakes.

!ate "inslet and #im $arrey starred in %ternal &unshine 'f the &potless (ind - which saw the

couple use a technique to erase painful memories of each other

Dr Daniel &okol a lecturer in medical ethics at &t )eorge*s +niversity of ,ondon said *emoving

 bad memories is not like removing a wart or a mole. /t will change our personal identity since who

we are is linked to our memories. */t may perhaps be beneficial in some cases but before

eradicating memories we must reflect on the knock-on effects that this will have on individuals

society and our sense of humanity.*

Dutch researchers claim to have erased bad memories by using *beta-blocker* drugs which

are usually prescribed to patients with heart disease. The drug could erase frighteningmemories - such as spider phobia

%xperiments on animals had already shown that the drugs - beta-adrenergic receptor blockers - caninterfere with how the brain makes and remakes memories of frightening events.

/n the latest study Dr (erel !indt of Amsterdam +niversity tested the drugs on 01 men and

women.

2is team created fearful memories in volunteers by showing them pictures of spiders while giving

them gentle electric shocks.

The volunteers were urged to *actively remember* the images creating a strong negative association

 between spiders and discomfort.

The following day the volunteers were split into two groups. 'ne was given the beta blocker and

the other a placebo pill before both were shown the same spider pictures.

The researchers recorded the level of fear in the volunteers by playing sudden noises and

measuring how strongly they blinked.

A strong startle response showed they were in a fearful state while a mild response showed they

were calm.

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The group given the beta blocker had a much weaker fear response than those given the dummy

 pill the researchers report in the 4ournal 5ature 5euroscience.

A day later - once the drug was out of their systems - their fear response was tested again.

'nce more those given the beta blocker the previous day showed fewer signs of spider phobia

suggesting the memory was completely erased.

Beta blockers appear to work because each time someone recalls a powerful emotional memory the

memory is *remade* by the brain.

The drug interferes with this re-creation of the stressful memory - and prevents the brain renewing

it. /n theory it could eradicate memories of traumatic events that happened years ago. /t might also

help patients overcome phobias obsessions eating disorders and even sexual hang-ups.

Dr !indt said *Traditionally therapists seek to teach people with such disorders strategies to build

new associations and block bad memories but the problem is the memories remain and people often

relapse.*

/t could be several years before doctors prescribe the drugs for patients with post-traumatic stress

disorder.

The scientists say more tests are needed to confirm the drug*s memory- erasing properties. Dr !indt

said *The next steps are to look at how long the drug*s effects on memory last and testing the

treatment in people who actually are suffering from some kind of disorder or phobia.*

But British experts warned the drug raises some difficult questions.

6rofessor #ohn 2arris an expert in biological ethics at the +niversity of (anchester said */t is

obviously up to the individual whether or not she wishes to risk the possible effects including psychological discontinuity of erasing unpleasant memories.

*An interesting complexity is the possibility that victims say of violence might wish to erase the

 painful memory and with it their ability to give evidence against assailants.

*&imilarly criminals and witnesses to crime may under the guise of erasing a painful memory

render themselves unable to give evidence.*

6aul 7armer chief executive of the mental-health charity (ind said he was concerned about the

*fundamentally pharmacological* approach to problems such as phobias and anxiety.

2e told $hannel 8 5ews that the unintended consequences *could include the eradication of positive memories*. 6rofessor 5eil Burgess of the /nstitute of $ognitive 5euroscience told the

 programme that wide-scale use of the drug was a long way off.

*All they*ve shown so far is that the increased ability to startle someone if they are feeling a bit

anxious is reduced* he said.

The ability to remove memories has been the stuff of science fiction for decades.

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