One of the unique aspects about the World Science Festival is the willingness of the organisers to experiment with different formats; from theatrical interpretations of key "scientific events ":https://blogs.nature.com/u6e5b2ce1/2011/06/07/photograph-51 to the all-day family street fair on the final day. Another type of event at this year’s festival is the “science salon”; a panel discussion pitched at a slightly more scientific audience with an emphasis on more direct conversation between the panel and the attendees.

Experimenting with formating of memories in the brain was the topic for Saturday afternoon’s “Manipulating Memory” salon. However, what followed was not a trippy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-style philosophical exploration, but a well-pitched session, with carefully selected panellists who mostly complemented each other’s expertise. This led to a very tight discussion of the current paradigms in learning and memory with a few titbits of food for thought on the ethical implications of probable future progress.

Moderated by Julie Burstein the panel consisted of:

Christina Alberini – Professor in the Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Structrural and Chemical Biology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Adam Kolber – Professor at Brooklyn Law School

Joseph LeDoux – Professor of neural science at NYU and Director of the Emotional Brain Insititute

Lynn Nadel – researches the role of the hippocampus in memory and spatial cognition

Elizabeth Phelps – Director of the Phelps lab at the New York University Center for Neuroeconomics

Todd Sacktor – researches the role of protein kinase C in the short-term memory of snails.

The key science described was that of the consolidation and re-consolidation of memories. Following an event, memories can be solidified from short-term memories into more persistent, long-term memories, a process that we know can be easily disrupted e.g. if a person has been drinking alcohol or is distracted by another event. The "PKC-zeta ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_kinase_M_zeta/Protein_kinase_C_zeta protein is now known to be involved in this process of long term memory storage and experiments where its normally constitutive activity is down-regulated result in the loss of long-term memories.

While it’s possible to alter memory formation at this initial stage of learning, it’s also possible to alter memories later via reconsolidation; every time a memory is recalled and accessed, reconsolidation allows it to be further manipulated and then re-stored with the accumulated alterations. Think of it as taking out a library book and returning it with an additional date stamp in the front, or a crease on one of the page corners. This new paradigm of reconsolidation opens up potential therapeutic solutions (either via drugs or talking therapies) for people who have been exposed to emotionally traumatic events, but the panel also questioned the ethics of meddling with memories in this way. While all agreed we should aim to alleviate suffering, including emotional suffering, wherever possible, what happens if a key witness in a trial appears “too calm” when describing an horrific event because they’ve received treatment that has softened their anxiety-inducing memories? Should jurors be informed so that they could alter their judgements of the witness’ report accordingly?

As well as the unclear ethical implications, we are also currently limited by the sheer lack of known drugs that can be used to study memory storage in humans. The use of the beta-blocker propranolol (typically used for lowering blood pressure), for treating post-traumatic stress disorder was mentioned, but the panel seemed convinced we need to be prepared what to do “when” and not “if” other memory-altering drugs become available. The discussion of ethics and drug treatments also raises the interesting question of whether future studies could show any mechanistic differences between talking therapies and drug treatments? Would taking a pill to forget a painful break-up be specific enough not to erase other memories too and would it also remove the illumination that regret, introspection and a mild dose of suffering can provide?

If you want to read more highlights from the World Science Festival, you can find a summary of all our coverage here.