Erasing Traumatic Memories in Animals

Hussain Ali
Memories

Gofrixty [18 August 2025] – Researchers in Japan experimental techniques that can wipe away, change or even restore memories in animals without damaging the brain or altering the rest of the animal’s mental function. These advances also bode well for future treatments of PTSD, phobias and even addiction.

The researchers did this by targeting particular brain mechanisms. In some labs, scientists over-expressed some proteins, animals remembered traumatic experiences. This treatment wiped out fearful memories while leaving other memories intact. Crucially, the overall structure and function of the brain were healthy.

Another group of researchers concentrated on encouraging neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus. The brain had rewired itself by spurring new neurons to form — likely from the protein BDNF, which is known to be released in high amounts during aerobic exercise. The mice forgot their traumatic or drug-related memories, demonstrating that it is possible to rewrite memory without side effects.

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At Tohoku University, a team of researchers discovered that astrocytes, a type of support cells in the brain, are crucial for memory. By artificially turning these cells on shortly after a traumatic event using special techniques, they were able to erase the fear memories the next day. Remarkably, working memory was unaffected, demonstrating that only certain traumatising experiences were eliminated.

Other experiments employed optogenetics, a technique that causes neurons to fire with light. The scientists associated negative memories with positive ones, essentially changing the emotional charge of the memory. Rather than fear or stress, the animals later experienced positive responses when they recalled those events.

These studies suggest one startling truth: Traumatic memories can be tenuous, even when they feel infinitely-etched. They can be weakened, suppressed, or even erased, with the right methods. The fact that these approaches keep the brain healthy while also targeting specific memories adds to the optimism, the authors say.

Experts caution, however, that these approaches are in their early days and raise ethical considerations. Applying them to people will require much more research and painstaking consideration. Yet as powerful a step toward the healing of the mind as this work represents.

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