 |
| Scientists are only beginning to advance memory-enhancing technology research, but even in this early stage, there are questions that deserve consideration. (Illustration credit: Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock) |
Topics: Biology, Science Fiction, STEM
I immediately thought of "Neo: I know Kung Fu!"... "Morpheus: Show me!" I was disabused of the notion after reading through the article.
I secondarily thought of the hand-wringing on what was-then referred to as the "information superhighway" AKA the Internet. At the time, you needed the ability to access it on a personal computer - not a laptop, but a desktop or tower, which at the time cost far more than it does now. Example: my old 486 was $2,500 with my wife's EMPLOYEE discount! Our laptop cost less than $400 now. Also, "apps" on cell phones were nonexistent, and you certainly couldn't surf the Internet on them. They were mostly analogue walkie-talkies with dial tone and horrendous service charges, not that that's gotten any better.
Humans are distinctly unique in Earthbound species: we define somethings as valuable and almost immediately craft barriers - real and artificial - to its access to further drive its value and profits. (Elephants and herds of buffalo at watering holes are far more democratic.) Also, as the article alludes, it is a mixed blessing in some memories that we've learned through pain aversion to block out completely. Perfect recall could be that and a curse.
Even if intelligence could be enhanced by an implant, I could see the backlash and the caveat emptor arising from the expert and provocateur alike. I am reminded of two quotes I thought apropos:
"There is no great genius without some touch of madness."
Aristotle
"Science has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of the intelligence."
Edgar Allan Poe
`
In fall, DARPA announced a major success in its Restoring Active Memory (RAM) program. Researchers implanted targeted electrical arrays in the brains of a few dozen volunteers — specifically in brain areas involved in memory.
The researchers found a way to read out neural “key codes” associated with specific memories, and then fed those codes back into the volunteers’ brains as they tried to recall lists of items or directions to places. While the results are still preliminary, DARPA claims that the RAM technique has already achieved “promising results” in improving memory retrieval.
Intriguing as this implant is, it’s only the latest in an ongoing series of neurological techniques and gizmos designed to boost and sharpen memory. The effects and implications of these systems raise questions that are worth consideration.
Discover Magazine: 3 Implications of Memory-Boosting Devices, Ben Thomas
Comments