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Steve Ramirez: If We Could Erase Memories ... Should We? Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez used lasers to enter the brains of mice and edit their memories. He imagines a future where this technology might be possible in humans as well.

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Life's biggest questions, explored.

Steve Ramirez: If We Could Erase Memories ... Should We?

Heard on TED Radio Hour

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NPR/TED Staff

Steve Ramirez: If We Could Erase Memories ... Should We?

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Part 4 of the TED Radio Hour episode Manipulation.

About Steve Ramirez's TED Talk

Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez used lasers to enter the brains of mice and edit their memories. He imagines a future where this technology might be possible in humans as well.

About Steve Ramirez

Steve Ramirez is an assistant professor of neuroscience at Boston University. His work focuses on finding where single memories are located throughout the brain, genetically tricking the brain cells that house these memories to respond to brief pulses of light, and then using these same flickers of light to reactivate, erase, and implant memories.

TED Radio HourTED Radio Hour

Life's biggest questions, explored.