科學家發現消除不愉快記憶的方法

Are there any memories you'd like to permanently remove from your head?

是不是有些記憶你想從頭腦中永久刪除？

Or what if you could alter unpleasant memories so they're no longer upsetting? Or create entirely new memories of events that never occurred?

或者，如果有某種手段可以改寫你的不愉快記憶，讓你不再沮喪，你覺得怎麼樣？甚至讓你的大腦生成全新的、從未發生過的記憶呢？

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but according to a new documentary that premiered in the US recently, scientists have discovered how to do just that—and more.

這聽起來像科幻小說裏的橋段。不過根據美國近日播出的一部紀錄片的介紹，科學家其實已經知道怎麼實現上面這些“科幻”了，而且還不止這些。

"Memory Hackers," from PBS's NOVA documentary strand, looks at cutting edge research into the nature of memory, and how it might be manipulated for mankind's benefit.

美國公共廣播公司的“NOVA”系列科普節目近日推出了一部名爲《記憶黑客》的紀錄片，講述了科學家對記憶本質進行的尖端研究，並以此造福人類的過程。

"For much of human history, memory has been seen as a tape recorder that faithfully registers information and replays it intact," say the film's makers.

本片製作人表示：“在大部分人類歷史中，記憶就像一臺磁帶錄音機：忠實的紀錄信息，然後按原音重放。”

"But now, researchers are discovering that memory is far more malleable, always being written and rewritten, not just by us but by others. We are discovering the precise mechanisms that can explain and even control our memories."

“不過現在，研究者發現，記憶其實非常可塑，可以不斷改寫。而改寫的人可以是我們自己，也可以是其他人。我們已經發現了能夠準確解釋、甚至控制我們記憶的大腦運行機制。”

Among the documentary's subjects is Jake Hausler, a 12-year-old boy from St. Louis who can remember just about every single thing he has experienced since the age of 8.

12歲的男孩傑克·豪斯勒是本片中參與試驗的人之一。來自聖路易斯的他幾乎能清楚的記得自己8歲以來經歷過的每件事。

Jake is the youngest ever person to be diagnosed with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, which makes it difficult for him to distinguish between trivial and important events from his past.

在所有患“極端自傳式記憶症”的人中，傑克年齡最小。他分辨不出記憶中哪些是不值一記的小事，哪些是值得記住的大事。

"Forgetting is probably one of the most important things that brains will do," says Andre Fenton, a prominent neuroscientist who is currently working on a technique to erase painful memories. "We understand only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to human memory."

著名神經學家安德烈·芬頓致力於消除痛苦記憶的研究。他表示：“‘忘記’可以說是大腦需要掌握的最重要的機能之一。在對人類記憶進行的研究方面，我們目前發現的還只是冰山一角。”

Other interviewees include Julia Shaw, psychology professor at London South Bank University, who has designed a system for implanting false memories, and has successfully convinced subjects they've committed crimes that never took place.

倫敦南岸大學的心理學教授茱莉亞·肖也是受訪者之一。她設計了一種可以向人腦植入錯誤記憶的系統，這種系統能讓受試者錯誤的以爲自己有過犯罪行爲。

The film's makers also speak to clinical psychologist Merel Kindt, who has discovered that medication can be used to remove the negative associations of some memories—through which she has managed to 'cure' patients of arachnophobia.

本片製作人還採訪了臨牀心理學家梅雷爾·金迪特。金迪特發現，可以通過藥物消除不好的記憶，她就曾在蜘蛛恐懼症患者身上成功運用了這個方法。