Scientists find protein that could help people erase bad memories

Researchers have discovered a protein that could be used to indicate whether people's emotions and their memories can be changed or even forgotten. Long-term memories are divided into two categories: fact-based memory, such as names, places, and events, and instinctive memory such as emotions or skills. Instinctive memories can be modified, scientists believe, and such research may be able to help people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The scientists at Cambridge University found that the presence of the "shank" protein acts as a support for receptors that determine how strong the connection is between various neurons and, as a result, may determine whether memories can be modified using the beta-blocker propranolol. If the protein is degraded, the memories become modifiable – although scientists are not yet clear whether it is directly involved in the memory breaking down, or if it's a product of a deeper reaction.