Memory in the Flesh: Can memories survive outside the brain?

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8225321/memory-research-flatworm-cannibalism-james-mcconnell-michael-levin

by RyanCooley • 11 years ago

30 12 11 years ago

Somewhat related to this topic: doing 10 sessions of intensive rolfing therapy years ago not only helped correct some musculoskeletal issues I had; it also coincided with a significant dropoff in recurring Iraq-related dreams (I had previously served in OIF).

Most of my musculoskeletal stuff was directly attributable to carrying 100+ lbs of kit up and down the street, up and down stairs, and over 2-meter walls, 4-12 hours a day.

Maybe there's no correlation and it was just a placebo-type thing and/or my mind playing tricks on me, but I'm inclined to think that the improvement in longstanding tissue-related issues that were caused by deploying also ameliorated some of the psychological residue of that experience.

dhimes• 11 years ago

I had never heard of this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolfing

jackweirdy• 11 years ago

“There is no evidence Rolfing is effective for the treatment of any health condition”

bitwize2• 11 years ago

Is it Woo Wednesday on Hacker News?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_memory

Come on.

strathmeyer• 11 years ago

"Hey, I wonder if this is about the guy who ground up flatworms. Wow, he's still doing bad science??" We learned about him in our psychology research methods courses. So we were literally taught something is incorrect that is apparently still practiced in the field.

coldtea2• 11 years ago

Probably missed the whole content of TFA, which is that his experiments were redone now, with possitive results...

It's not like it's impossible to be taught BS (e.g. that "something us incorrect") and it later to be proven true after all...

shakil• 11 years ago

From a religious perspective, Muslims believe in parts other than the brain also retaining a memory of their deeds and bearing independent witness on the day of judgement. Quran Sura 41, v18-20

secstate• 11 years ago

Man, science journalism is so hit or miss. While I appreciate the exposure that articles like this give interesting ideas, there's something so hilariously unscientific about the presentation.

For my money, I'd question whether it's worth comparing an organism that can regenerate it's brain against any vertebrate that cannot.

Memory in the Flesh: Can memories survive outside the brain?

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