U.S. scientists say they have erased memory from the brain by targeting a molecular mechanism.
The researchers at the State University of New York Health Science Center say the finding might someday be applied to chronic pain, memory loss and other conditions.
The scientists discovered a molecular mechanism that maintains memories in the brain and, learned that by inhibiting the molecule they can erase long-term memories, much as a computer disc is erased.
Furthermore, they said erasing the memory from the brain does not prevent the ability to relearn the memory, much as a cleaned computer disc may be re-used.
This finding, they said, might have applications some day in treating chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and memory loss, among other conditions.
The study is reported in the current issue of the journal Science.
Source: United Press International
