Comments on: Beta-blocker drug erases the emotion of fearful memories

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:55:49 +0000

Recommendation: for a beautiful and fascinating account of a year on propranolol, head on over to Stephanie Zvan's blog Almost Diamonds.

By: Glenda Wilson

Glenda Wilson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:06:03 +0000

I was on beta-blockers to treat familiar tremors from 1978 -1986. During that time, it seemed that I was a different person -practically fearless. Almost every memory prior to taking Inderal is gone –my childhood, my marriages, and raising my children.
Sadly, it seems that it not only wiped out the bad memories, but all the good ones as well. It is as though there was never any bonding with my parents or my children. I think I would rather have my memories than to have lost all the good ones.
They are addictive and when doctors switched dosage to long acting I have severe –almost psychotic side effects to the point I had to be hospitalized and weaned off them.

By: Flymises

Flymises — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:51:14 +0000

Ahem – correction:
“i.e. if a person does NOT lose … induced from the drug paired with the stimulus that’s removing the memory*.”
*EMOTION/EMOTIONAL RESPONSE

By: Flymises

Flymises — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:44:00 +0000

Ahem, Correction:
“i.e. if a person does NOT lose … induced from the drug paired with the stimulus that’s removing the memory*.”
*EMOTION/EMOTIONAL RESPONSE

By: Flymises

Flymises — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:41:03 +0000

Valhar,
“Has anyone checked if this drug affects other emotional responses besides fear? For example, if you recall the best date you ever had while under the effects of this drug, would you thereafter not feel anything while remembering said date?”
That’s an excellent point and certainly needs considering.
Also, by experimenting with this, some more insight into the mechanism might be revealed.
i.e. if a person does NOT lose their positive emotional connection with a memory while under the influence of Propranolol, it would suggest a behavioural mechanism where it’s the association of the relaxation induced from the drug paired with the stimulus that’s removing the memory.
If positive emotions are erased, however, causation is more difficult because it could be an association with the neutrality of the drug and/or the prevention of the new ‘consolidation’ protein production.
Additionally, of course, if positive emotions are erased, a whole new can of ethics is cracked wide open. People can’t really prevent themselves from recalling desirably emotive memories while under the influence of the drug! Eek!
Or perhaps the can would be closed and the drug ditched for nothing more than experimentation…

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:51:00 +0000

Personally I spell it proprano… lol!

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:47:47 +0000

Oh dear, that’s embarrassing. FAIL. Now corrected.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:26:31 +0000

Don’t you spell it propranolol, not propanolol? Or can it be either?

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:17:19 +0000

More on the media coverage of this story here

By: Valhar2000

Valhar2000 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:46:54 +0000

Has anyone checked if this drug affects other emotional responses besides fear? For example, if you recall the best date you ever had while under the effects of this drug, would you thereafter not feel anything while remembering said date?
And, a crazy idea: what if you gave this drug to a born again christian, and then asked them to describe the moment when they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (if that is the correct terminology)? Would they no longer give as much importance to their conversion?
Also, if anyone tried that, they should ask an atheist to remember their deconversion while under the influence and see what changes.