Neuroscience advancements may enable memory manipulation in future

Brain doctors say that advances in neuroscience could eventually allow people to control their memories better, similar to the concept in the TV show "Severance." In the show, workers have their memories split into separate parts for work and home. Dr. Vijay Agarwal, a neurosurgeon, believes that technology for such memory control isn't far off. However, current science does not support the idea of completely severing memories. Dr. Bing, a neurologist, explains that our memories are interconnected, and altering one could affect others. Interestingly, some aspects of memory splitting already exist in our lives. For example, our daily experiences can influence our dreams. Dr. Steve Ramirez notes that we have forgotten memories that still shape who we are, much like how the show’s characters have separate memories of work and home. Experts are studying infancy amnesia — our inability to remember early experiences — to understand memory better. Some scientists have even succeeded in unlocking previously forgotten memories in mice. To create a memory-manipulating chip like in "Severance," researchers would target parts of the brain that control memory and emotions. Dr. Jordina Rincon-Torroella notes that advancements in medical technology already allow doctors to treat conditions by implanting devices into the brain. Companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink are working on brain chips that help paralyzed individuals interact with technology using their thoughts. However, altering memory and consciousness poses significant ethical dilemmas. Dr. Bing points out that memories shape our identities. The show raises questions about what it means to separate who we are outside of work from our workplace identity. Disorders affecting memory, like Alzheimer’s, show that memory loss can drastically change a person’s behavior and relationships.