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  • WILLIAM SHATNER: Boston, Massachusetts, July, 2013.

  • Scientists at Boston University published the results

  • of an extraordinary experiment, results

  • that called into question literally everything we know.

  • A few years ago, we had a series of experiments

  • where we were able to create a false memory

  • in the rodent brain.

  • We put our rodents in a safe environment,

  • where they were free to roam around.

  • And we developed a set of genetic tricks, where the brain

  • cells that held on to the memory of that safe environment now

  • became responsive to pulses of light.

  • So the next day, what we did was we

  • put the animals in a completely different environment.

  • And we gave them a couple of mild foot shocks

  • in that environment, in an attempt to startle them.

  • But the key thing is that we could shoot light

  • into the brain and reactivate that cells that

  • held on to that safe memory.

  • So one of the ways that we've known that we've switched

  • the memories is that the animal no longer behaviorally

  • looks like it's scared.

  • And then, that at least opened up the floodgates to this idea

  • that we can artificially manipulate memories in general.

  • We might be able to one day perform some kind of surgery

  • or some kind of intervention in the brain to enhance memories

  • that we don't want to be lost as a result of Alzheimer's, or

  • suppressed memories, let's say, that we don't want to be there

  • in cases of PTSD, or suppressed emotions, for instance,

  • in certain cases of anxiety.

  • Memories are stored, just like you

  • can put memories on a card in a video camera

  • or on your cell phone.

  • And it's possible that you could manipulate the chemical,

  • the organic wiring, so to speak, just

  • like you could manipulate a memory

  • card in an electronic device.

  • You can take one file out and put another file in.

  • In the future, we'll be able to record memories, play them

  • back, and alter these memories.

  • And I wouldn't be surprised that in the future,

  • you'll be able to go to a library

  • and have that vacation that you never had.

  • But once we learn how to add and remove files

  • from our brains, if we do not have

  • some kind of safeguard system, some kind of firewall

  • to prevent other people from doing it

  • without us letting them, then trusting our memories

  • might be a problem.

  • Implanting new thoughts into people's

  • minds, artificial memories?

  • The implications are as profound as they are frightening.

  • For example, how do you know if you actually watched this show?

  • Perhaps someone simply created a memory

  • and put it inside your head.

  • Preposterous?

  • How would you be able to tell the difference?

  • Let's face it.

  • Just when we think we've figured out everything there is

  • to learn about the human mind, we realize how little we really

  • understand and how much more we need

  • to know before there's nothing left that is unexplained.

WILLIAM SHATNER: Boston, Massachusetts, July, 2013.

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