A New England pharmaceutical company, Biosyn, has begun development of an experimental drug that could show promise in the field of behavioral medicine. The drug reportedly shows modification and possible elimination of distressing memories. Preliminary studies show hippocampal surface activation, with extension to associated neural networks as targets for the drug, RY6753. Dr. John Samson explains "the drug acts by modifying the surface of hippocampus and its projections. Essentially, any memory at the time of injection could be modified, eliminated or replaced." Animal models have shown promise with the new drug, with successful elimination of prior conditioned fears. Dr. John Samson continues: "We conditioned a fear response to rats using a wolf-puppet and noxious stimuli. After showing the rat the wolf-puppet, but withholding the noxious stimulus, we injected RY6753. Moments later, the rats physiological response calmed and his behavior re-normalized." By Samson's explanation, in seconds, the learned fear was reversed. Functional imaging correlates with the findings, showing activation and elimination of the hippocampal - amygdal projections. Thus far, the drug has not shown any apparent side effects. Most would agree, however, modifying brain structures is a risky venture. The future shows promise with drugs that can target such specific areas of the brain. Perhaps in a few years time we will be able to take a drug that will instantly eliminate our worst fears.
