New Research Could Lead to Treatment for PTSD and Drug Addiction

The ability to alter memories seems terrifying and dangerous, yet for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder it could also be life-changing. In a significant step towards treating such diseases, scientists from Western University have discovered a way of actively supressing memories without permanently altering them. Researchers have identified an area of the brain called the pre-limbic cortex as being responsible for the recall of memories associated with both traumatic and rewarding events. Being able to control the recall of traumatic memories would obviously aid patients suffering from PTSD, but controlling memories of “rewarding” situations could also help prevent drug addicts relapsing.

The research was performed by Nicole Lauzon, a PhD candidate in the laboratory of Steven Laviolette at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry: by stimulating a sub-type of dopamine receptor called the “D1” receptor in rats, she could completely prevent the recall of both negative and positive memories. By identifying the mechanism that controls the recall of memories, Lauzon has a potential target for drugs to treat PTSD and addiction. This is only the first step along a long path to treating these disorders, but the fact that Lauzon has achieved control of memory recall without any permanent damage to the brain itself suggests her research could be used in the treatment of human diseases.