In 2013, an ambitious investigation promoted by the University of Basel and which included the collaboration of several universities served, it seems, to find the chemical compounds that regulate the expression of memories
In addition, it allowed us to verify how certain molecules administered through drugs affect the body by reducing unpleasant memories. The article with the conclusions was published in the journal PNAS.
A drug to eliminate bad memories: is this possible?
The drug is part of the group of antihistamines and was chosen because it acts on a type of neuron receptors whose creation involves a gene related to the maintenance of traumatic memories. The effects of the drug, called diphenhydramine, were tested in a double-blind study with one group given this substance once and another taking a placebo.
As expected, People who had taken the antihistamine showed a tendency to remember fewer unpleasant images to which they had been exposed only 5 minutes ago. And all this, 3 hours after taking a single dose. Furthermore, the drug had no effects on the retrieval of memories associated with a neutral or positive emotional tone.
Promising conclusions
This research used as a basis from which to formulate hypotheses the genetic mechanisms that regulate the expression of memories. Thus, based on the knowledge we have about the information encoded in human DNA, the researchers were able to determine which chemical compounds present in the body should act on drugs related to the recovery of memories.
Thus, a discard filter process was applied to a group of 20 genes that were finally reduced to 9 after having gone through different reviews based on varied criteria, and then It was found which of the 9 genes is most related to the traumatic memories of 349 genocide survivors This gene was the one that received the label HRH1 and intervenes in the creation of receptors histamine H1hence an antihistamine was chosen for pharmacological treatment.
Researchers maintain that knowing this is a great advance, since it serves to demonstrate how knowledge about the genetic bases of human beings can be used to select drugs and predict their effects.
A debate beyond science
Beyond the scientific debate, there is always the debate about whether it is pertinent to reduce the imprint that bad memories leave on us. Some people, such as those who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, may find these types of resources useful, but it is surely perverse to make drugs reach the last corner of our lives that cannot be directly associated with happiness. Bad memories, in addition to being difficult to isolate by using a single label, can be part of the lessons that we internalize through contact with the real world and, therefore, it is easy to find a use for them.
Therefore, determining to what extent the use of these pills is practical is a process subject to constant debate. Let us hope that we will be able to reach a decision freely, apart from the large pharmaceutical corporations that have interests at stake.
