The human mind strives to maintain equilibrium between memory and
oblivion and rejects irrelevant or disruptive memories. However, extensive
amounts of stress hormones released at the time of a traumatic event can
give rise to such powerful memory formation that traumatic memories cannot
be rejected and do not vanish or diminish with time: Post-traumatic stress
disorder may then develop. Recent scientific studies suggest that
beta-blockers stopping the action of these stress hormones may reduce the
emotional impact of disturbing memories or prevent their consolidation.
Using such an intervention could, in principle, help people who suffer
from post-traumatic stress disorder, but the idea of doing so is
controversial. I shall here discuss memory manipulation in this
perspective.
