Thread: memory transplants

Even if what you said about gels forming isn't accurate, I'm absolutely sure this would be possible in the near future. Not only could we be able to take memories from one person and give them to another, but create fictional memories from scratch.

I remember watching a documentary on TV that talked about how to 'implant' a memory into someone's mind using suggestion. You'd describe to the person something that did not happen to them and include minute sensory detail, and gradually the person would think that they 'remembered' the scene described. Not really the same as physically implanting a memory, but interesting nonetheless.

Try reading We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K Dick; I think you'd like it.

Something like 50+% of the people studied were capable of generating false memories with that technique. That is simply terrifying.

As far as actually transplanting memories, from person to person; I don't know about the future, but I'm pretty certain it's not possible now.

There is debate on whether or not memories are even localized in the brain. Studies show that people/animals can lose up to 85-90% of their brain without, seemingly, the loss of any memories or capacity.

So, as far as now, I don't think we can transplant memories that we can't actually find.

I have a hard time believing that a memory transplant would work based on
my belief that a memory is actually a chemical and electrical process. It would be
akin to not saving a file you created and then closing the program; without the
power source ( you ) I don't think that particular collection of chemicals that constitutes a
biological memory would remain intact.

Check out the April/May issue of Scientific American Mind for alot of great articles on
the subject of the biological mind. There's a good essay on page 62 by Eric Kandel.
http://www.sciammind.com/issue.cfm?issueDate=Apr-06


This is one of my favorite publications.

ps: still writing, Roller?

First off, memory is not electric impulses being created but synapses. The electric impulses travel through the synapses from cell to cell over axons/dendrites, that could be seen as an ''activation' of the memory. A memory can't be localized in the brain in that a certain region would be memory XY. A brain is NOT A COMPUTER, there are no files, no folders and there's no central user. Hundreds and thousands (millions, billions...) of synaptic connections make up what you may perceive as a memory but there are so many cross-connections between all the parts of the brain that it's simply impossible to transplant any type of information from one brain to another. It's a matter of compatibility, the brain is way too complex. Won't happen this century, even with evolution developing exponentially.

The point is that you rarely save 'images' or 'sounds' but everything you remember builds up on unbelieavably many theories and concepts you have of the world. So you think in terms of objects, voices, language etc. New memories form on basis of old memories, which is efficient; memory doesn't take up much space. There's no possibliity to just copy things from one brain to another though.

And you can be pretty damn sure that memories are located in the brain, it's well-known and anything else doesn't make sense. I haven't heard of someone losing their leg and thus forgetting something. I have heard of Alzheimer and senility though.

Originally posted by Yatahaze

And you can be pretty damn sure that memories are located in the brain, it's well-known and anything else doesn't make sense. I haven't heard of someone losing their leg and thus forgetting something. I have heard of Alzheimer and senility though.

Well the brain is not the only location of intelligence in the body, so I'd doubt it is the only location of memory. An example of this is the reflex curve - when you touch a hot stove etc the reflex happens without any nerve signal being sent to the brain, resulting in a much faster reaction. While it's not much, it is an indication of some form of intelligence. Muscle memory is another example. While not being 'memory' in the strictest sense, repeating a particular action allows for the nerve pathways that control that action to become 'ingrained.'

Originally posted by Roller


Well the brain is not the only location of intelligence in the body, so I'd doubt it is the only location of memory. An example of this is the reflex curve - when you touch a hot stove etc the reflex happens without any nerve signal being sent to the brain, resulting in a much faster reaction. While it's not much, it is an indication of some form of intelligence. Muscle memory is another example. While not being 'memory' in the strictest sense, repeating a particular action allows for the nerve pathways that control that action to become 'ingrained.'

I don't see how the transmission of an electric signal over one synapse and back to its origin classifies as intelligent.

that's all that happens in the brain, yatahaze. The mind is more than just the grey matter in the brain. The spine plays a significant role in what makes us human, as do the senses, as does every hormone-excreting gland in the body. Until we know more about how the brain works, we shouldn't make blind assumptions. Have you heard of someone losing their spine and still remembering everything? I didn't think so, because said person would be DEAD.

a few hundred years ago, it was PAINFULLY OBVIOUS that the world was flat. And right now, it's PAINFULLY OBVIOUS to you that memory works in a very specific way and in a very specific region. Well to me it's obvious that the spine plays a role in memory, and since neither of us knows for sure, how can either of us assume to be correct? I wanna see some citations next time someone assumes to know the innermost workings of the brain.

hmmm, this is an interesting topic. There have been accounts of people recieving memories from other people, but from a heart transplant. I think it is all extremely confusing.

I belive that people are more than just machines, capable of transfering "files" and creating them from scratch. I DO believe in the suggestion theory though. I do not know where I stand on this topic to be completely honest.

Originally posted by Yatahaze

I don't see how the transmission of an electric signal over one synapse and back to its origin classifies as intelligent.

Touch hot stove. Pain registered > electical signal sent to spine. The spine in turn sends appropriate signal back to arm and specific muscles, making them contract in a way that removes your hand from the hot stove, thereby stopping you from burning yourself. The result is intelligence, without the brain being involved at all.

You might have even felt this yourself. Ever grabbed something that was hot or burnt yourself on an iron? You might have noticed that you react before you feel the pain, or before your brain registers the pain. Because the signal and relay only has to reach the spine, the reaction is almost instant, and quicker than it would have been if the brain was involved.