Heart Attack Meds Could Remove the Bad From Bad Memories

People may become less vulnerable to bad memories by taking drugs commonly used to treat heart conditions, say Dutch researchers in a paper published in Nature Neuroscience. They believe beta-blocker drugs, usually given to patients following a heart attack or to manage hypertension, could help people suffering from anxiety and other consequences from tramautic experiences. Led by Merel Kindt, the research team created a fearful memory in 60 subjects by associating a photograph of a spider with an electric shock. A day later, participants who had been given propranolol, a beta-blocker drug, showed less fear when exposed to the image again than did those who were given a placebo. The effect persisted even after the drug was out of the system and the subjects were retested. "The people did not forget seeing the photograph of the spider, but the fear associated with the image was erased"