Scientists have discovered a molecule that may play a critical role in memory.  Long story short?  One day, it may be possible to edit your memories – specifically, to erase them.

I know…on first glance, the possibility of messing around with people’s memories conjures up images of brainwashed, mind-controlled zombies.  But hang on, because there’s a whole lot more to the story than that.

Generally speaking, scientists wouldn’t be able to get funding for their research unless some kind of practical, useful applications could come out of their work.  In the case of memory drugs, making it easier to forget could help people overcome chronic fears, traumatic experiences, and addictions. 

And, if scientists can figure out how to make forgetting easier, then they could very well figure out how to reverse that process and make remembering easier, in which case people suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other memory problems may find some relief.

Of course, like most things, the ability to edit memory is a double-edged sword.  Bad memories may prolong trauma for some people, but they also anchor our moral conscience.  We’re less likely to repeat harmful behavior if we remember how crappy we felt the first time we did it.  Erasing bad memories could also lead to more reckless behavior if we know that we can just erase the footprints of painful moments.

Also, there are already people who use drugs like Ritalin to improve their mental focus even though they don’t suffer from some type of attention deficit disorder.  Is that okay?  To use substances to enhance your abilities if you don’t suffer from a condition that impedes your performance?

Lot of questions and possible dilemmas, right?  What do you think?  The ability to edit and/or enhance memory – are you looking forward to it or not?