Memory Erasure: A Safer and More Precise Technique for PTSD Treatment
In the realm of neurology and neuroscience, the concept of erasing specific memories is moving from sci-fi to reality. This technique could provide a groundbreaking solution for individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other memory-related issues. One of the closest real-life equivalents to the fictional memory-erasing machines seen in films is the technique described here. This article explores the potential of using a modified gamma knife machine as a memory erasing tool, its safety compared to electroconvulsive therapy, and how it can be safer and more specific.
Building a Human Memory Erasing Machine
Enter Andre Fenton and his groundbreaking research. He is currently working on erasing spatial memories in a mouse's brain using a modified gamma knife machine. This machine, when built, will have the potential to ionize micron-sized groups of neurons in the human brain, potentially erasing specific memories.
Rationale for Memory Erasure in PTSD Treatment
The primary goal is to provide a safe and effective means to alleviate PTSD, a condition that often results in intrusive, distressing memories. Current treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be effective but have side effects that include confusion and memory loss of important events and good memories. In contrast, the proposed method could potentially disrupt only the bad memories while leaving other important memories untouched.
The NeuroScientific Approach
The INUMAC MRI Machine
To achieve this, a new INUMAC (Intra-Neural Micropulse Activation and Correction) MRI machine for imaging neurological diseases at high-field MR and Contrastophores is being developed. This machine, which can image a 0.1mm3 area of the brain and observe changes as fast as one-tenth of a second, will revolutionize the precision of functional brain imaging. Currently, it's impossible to distinguish what is happening in the brain at the level of a few hundred neurons.
Combining INUMAC with CT Scanners and Neuro-Monitoring
The INUMAC machine will be combined with the latest CT scanners to provide a far more detailed picture than an X-ray. CT scans will help in seeing hundreds of different levels of gray matter in the brain. Additionally, integrating Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Electroencephalography (EEG) will allow for the precise visualization of the electro signals happening in real-time. The SERF (Spin-Exchange Relaxation-Free) spin exchange relaxation free magnetometer is also being researched for future use, which will further increase the accuracy of the electro signals in the brain.
Implementing the Modified Gamma Knife Machine
The modified gamma knife machine is the cornerstone of this innovative technique. It uses two to twenty-five beams to ionize micron-sized groups of neurons in cubic areas in the brain. The synergy of these beams creates an ionization effect in the center where the beam intensity is the strongest. The specific modification of the gamma knife machine is detailed in the downloadable diagram linked at the end of this page.
/ionization Protocol
The duration of ionization is a critical factor. A neuroscientist has suggested that ionizing some of the groups of neurons is sufficient to disrupt a specific memory. The process involves identifying the groups of neurons that hold the bad memory using INUMAC MRI, FMRI, CT, EEG, and MEG technologies. By repeatedly asking the patient to recall the bad memory while ionizing the associated neurons, the bad memory can gradually become hazy, effectively erasing it.
Evaluation and Future Prospects
Stanford scientists have demonstrated that they can observe hundreds of neurons firing in real-time in a live mouse, linking this activity to long-term information storage. This has significant implications for understanding memory consolidation and evaluating new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. By combining this with the modified gamma knife machine, researchers could prove that ionizing a few specific neurons is enough to disrupt a specific memory.
Request for Grants and Prototyping
Further research and development of this technique require grants from universities and a chance to start building the prototype. The funding would allow for the construction of the modified gamma knife and the initiation of experiments to prove the theory that ionizing only some neurons associated with a specific memory can disrupt that memory.
In conclusion, the development of a human memory erasing machine using a modified gamma knife could offer a safer and more specific method of treating PTSD without the severe side effects of current therapies. With continued research and development, this technique has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of memory-related disorders.