Memory Modulation for Warfighters.

Q1 Neuroscience
Andrea Lavazza
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper explores the potential of memory modulation techniques (MMTs) to alleviate psychological distress among veterans and active-duty soldiers, particularly in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury. While conventional treatments have shown limited success, emerging pharmacological and neurotechnological interventions-such as propranolol, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and optogenetics-offer new possibilities for mitigating the emotional burden of traumatic memories. For this reason, there appears to be an obligation to invest in the research of such techniques to ensure relief for veterans, toward whom society seems to bear a responsibility. However, these techniques raise important ethical concerns related to personal identity, moral responsibility, and the preservation of war memories. The paper examines the implications of memory modulation in military contexts, not only as a therapeutic tool but also in relation to potential risks, including its misuse for desensitizing soldiers or erasing accountability. A distinction is drawn between PTSD and moral injury, emphasizing that the latter, rooted in guilt and self-recrimination, presents specific ethical challenges. To ensure responsible implementation, the study suggests the necessity of independent ethical oversight, including specialized professionals (gatekeepers) tasked with guiding decision-making. By addressing both individual well-being and broader societal concerns, particularly regarding the role of memory in the context of war, this paper aims at contributing to the ongoing ethical debate on the future of memory modulation in military and clinical settings.

战士的记忆调制。
本文探讨了记忆调节技术(MMTs)在减轻退伍军人和现役军人心理困扰方面的潜力,特别是在创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)和道德伤害的情况下。虽然传统的治疗方法收效甚微,但新兴的药理学和神经技术干预——如心得安、经颅磁刺激和光遗传学——为减轻创伤记忆的情感负担提供了新的可能性。出于这个原因,似乎有义务投资于这些技术的研究,以确保退伍军人得到救济,社会似乎对他们负有责任。然而,这些技术引起了与个人身份、道德责任和保存战争记忆有关的重要伦理问题。本文研究了记忆调节在军事背景下的影响,不仅作为一种治疗工具,而且与潜在风险有关,包括误用使士兵脱敏或消除责任。作者将创伤后应激障碍与道德伤害区分开来,强调后者根植于内疚和自我指责,呈现出特定的道德挑战。为了确保负责任的实施,该研究建议有必要进行独立的道德监督,包括负责指导决策的专业人员(看门人)。通过解决个人福祉和更广泛的社会问题,特别是关于记忆在战争背景下的作用,本文旨在为正在进行的关于军事和临床环境中记忆调节未来的伦理辩论做出贡献。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
AJOB Neuroscience
AJOB Neuroscience Neuroscience-Neuroscience (all)
CiteScore
12.20
自引率
0.00%
发文量
48
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