Personality and Authenticity in Light of the Memory-Modifying Potential of Optogenetics: A Reply to Objections about Potential Therapeutic Applicability of Optogenetics

Adamczyk, Agnieszka K.; Zawadzki, Przemysław

doi:10.1080/21507740.2021.1938292

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…2 Although it is worth noting that the first clinical trial for neurodegenerative disease in humans has already been successfully carried out-optogenetics allowed to partially restore visual function in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa [43]. 3 There is an ongoing discussion on whether using optogenetics as a therapeutic MMT will be possible in the future [1,[44][45][46][47][48][49][50]. There are several threads in this debate: safety concerns [44,47], technological obstacles to translating optogenetic techniques from animal models to humans [44,47], and issues associated with the nature of memory, e.g., whether it will be possible to: control specific memory contents in human brains [44,47], track complex autobiographical memories [44,49], or selectively erase particular autobiographical memories due to their 'non-local' nature [44,48,50].…”

Section: And Ethical Ramifications Of Such An Intervention Among Othe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 There is an ongoing discussion on whether using optogenetics as a therapeutic MMT will be possible in the future [1,[44][45][46][47][48][49][50]. There are several threads in this debate: safety concerns [44,47], technological obstacles to translating optogenetic techniques from animal models to humans [44,47], and issues associated with the nature of memory, e.g., whether it will be possible to: control specific memory contents in human brains [44,47], track complex autobiographical memories [44,49], or selectively erase particular autobiographical memories due to their 'non-local' nature [44,48,50]. 4 Optogenetics has been recently discussed as a tool that may help to solve conceptual puzzles regarding the nature of memory [51,52].…”

Section: And Ethical Ramifications Of Such An Intervention Among Othe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Ethics of Memory Modification: Personal Narratives, Relational Selves and Autonomy

Zawadzki

2022

Neuroethics

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For nearly two decades, ethicists have expressed concerns that the further development and use of memory modification technologies (MMTs)—techniques allowing to intentionally and selectively alter memories—may threaten the very foundations of who we are, our personal identity, and thus pose a threat to our well-being, or even undermine our “humaneness.” This paper examines the potential ramifications of memory-modifying interventions such as changing the valence of targeted memories and selective deactivation of a particular memory as these interventions appear to be at the same time potentially both most promising clinically as well as menacing to identity. However, unlike previous works discussing the potential consequences of MMTs, this article analyzes them in the context of the narrative relational approach to personal identity and potential issues related to autonomy. I argue that such a perspective brings to light the ethical aspects and moral issues arising from the use of MMTs that have been hidden from previously adopted approaches. In particular, this perspective demonstrates how important the social context in which an individual lives is for the ethical evaluation of a given memory-modifying intervention. I conclude by suggesting that undertaking memory modifications without taking into account the social dimension of a person’s life creates the risk that she will not be able to meet one of the basic human needs—the autonomous construction and maintenance of personal identity. Based on this conclusion, I offer some reflections on the permissibility and advisability of MMTs and what these considerations suggest for the future.

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Section: And Ethical Ramifications Of Such An Intervention Among Othe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: And Ethical Ramifications Of Such An Intervention Among Othe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ethics of Memory Modification: Personal Narratives, Relational Selves and Autonomy

Zawadzki

2022

Neuroethics

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Memory Modification and Authenticity: A Narrative Approach

Leuenberger

2022

Neuroethics

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The potential of memory modification techniques (MMTs) has raised concerns and sparked a debate in neuroethics, particularly in the context of identity and authenticity. This paper addresses the question whether and how MMTs influence authenticity. I proceed by drawing two distinctions within the received views on authenticity. From this, I conclude that an analysis of MMTs based on a dual-basis, process view of authenticity is warranted, which implies that the influence of MMTs on authenticity crucially depends on the specifics of how memory modification would eventually work. Therefore, I continue with a systematic analysis of possible properties of MMTs in which I distinguish between the dimensions of memories and the kinds of experiences that can be modified as well as the properties of the process of memory modification. The impact of MMTs on authenticity is analyzed regarding the possible properties of MMTs and based on a narrative approach to authenticity which fulfills the requirements of a dual-basis, process view of authenticity. Lastly, I explore the potential of MMTs to shift the balance between self-discovery and self-creation within authenticity and thereby alter the concept itself as well as the value of authenticity.

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Personality and Authenticity in Light of the Memory-Modifying Potential of Optogenetics: A Reply to Objections about Potential Therapeutic Applicability of Optogenetics

Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

The Ethics of Memory Modification: Personal Narratives, Relational Selves and Autonomy

The Ethics of Memory Modification: Personal Narratives, Relational Selves and Autonomy

Memory Modification and Authenticity: A Narrative Approach

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