Science vs. Fiction: False Memory Implants

Veronica Belmont from "Fact or Fictional" joins Anthony to talk about implanting false memories. Is it possible, or will it forever be a thing of science fiction?

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Mice "incepted" with false memories provide insight into neural phenomena
"Researchers at the RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics and MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have incepted false memories into mice, potentially illuminating the mechanisms underlying the human phenomenon of "recalling" experiences that never occurred."

Creating a False Memory in the Hippocampus
"Memories can be unreliable. We created a false memory in mice by optogenetically manipulating memory engram-bearing cells in the hippocampus."

Creating False Memories in Mice
"A mouse associated the negative experience from one box with the positive environment of another."

MIT Scientists Create False Memories in Mice, Creep Out All Other Species
"Don't worry, it'll be a while before people can implant a false memory in your brain."

Susceptibility to long-term misinformation effect outside of the laboratory
"How often do you answer the question "How do you know?" with "Because I remember"? We rely on memory every day and may assume that it is veridical, especially when memories are vivid and detailed."

False Memories of Self-Performance Result From Watching Others' Actions
"Did I turn off the stove, or did I just imagine it? Memory isn't always reliable."

Observation Inflation Your Actions Become Mine
"Imagining performing an action can induce false memories of having actually performed it-this is referred to as the imagination-inflation effect."

But Did You See the Gorilla? The Problem With Inattentional Blindness
"The most effective cloaking device is the human mind"

The Invisible Gorilla
"Imagine you are asked to watch a short video (above) in which six people-three in white shirts and three in black shirts-pass basketballs around."

Veronica on Twitter!
Watch Fact or Fictional?:

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Your Memory Sucks:
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[Seeker]

Man, that was a show that started slow and then got CRAZY AWESOME about halfway through, right? -Anthony

[Elimba]

If it could backup memories by tapping into hippocampus, it could be used for people with memory problems. It could also be used to help improve a.i and create better data sets for algorithms.

[Seeker]

I'm actually really really happy about how many people noticed that. Our audience is full of smarties. :) -Anthony

[deadlyseven]

How about a episode about memory wipe? It's been very long since I saw a something like it on TV so I don't know a lot. It was about a guy who discover how we remember and he gave a mouse a test where there is a section of this circle where it shocks the mouse and when the mouse remembered not to go there, the guy did something to make the mouse forget and he put the mouse back inside the circle and he forgot.

[Bsquez]

You ever feel like waving your hands around or just being a little more active with your hand gestures whilst explaining something helps get your idea across better? I'm also known for doing this, although a lot of my friends tend to blame that on me being hispanic, but i swear i feel like it does help me.

[Seeker]

The day I stop waving my hands around is the day I'm not excited about things anymore. MAY I FOREVER LOOK LIKE A SILLY CHICKEN. -Anthony

[darlenedarlene]

QUESTION: What about implanted memories from our parents repeating stories about us, so often over the years that it seems like you remember the incident?

[TheJohnnyArtur]

It kinda freaks me out, because if we can make mouses feel good while being shocked, and if our brains are so similar to their brains, how long untill someone tries to manage what do we like and what don't we like?

[sonicdoor]

What about Dollhouse? Is it possible to wipe someone clean, then completely build them up again with false memories.

[vgamesx]

now.. I want to know everything about everything! upload it to my brain now!

[ags]

i prefer that you explain how this work, rather than discuss and tell someone else

[Neuralatrophy]

If a memory is a series of neurological connections in a firing sequence, wouldn't it be possible to electrically stimulate nerve cells to grow into a certain pattern which would then recreate a memory ? Unless memories are stored via some other medium in the brain.

[Poodleinacan]

A Belmont?!
It's a relief! We are saved, if Dracula ever comes back to life.

[bombay]

this would be very bad for people, say you kill someone and someone saw what happened and they're going to testify but you don't want that to happen so you alter there mind to forget what happen and forget that they got there memories erased and replace them with an alibi, see what could happen, even if you cant erase memories people could still see what happened as a good thing.

[SockOrSomething]

..I think because we have the ability to imagine, that is why we can create false memories.

what music do u use in this video? i love it! its such a chill song!

[alexnoyle]

Veronica Belmont is smart, awesome, and adorable. I love her show "Fact or Fiction" on The Tech Feed channel. Anyone who likes her should check it out.

[JoshLester]

Total Recall comes to my mind when listening to this

[AceHoffman]

Strange that your promo image would use the power cables, not the data cables. You'll never get any memories implanted that way!

[kolrawktheworld]

I don't think it's ever really safe to test that theory...shock treatment can bring on a ton of mental issues - it's happened in my own family.