Dissertationsprojekt

Neurobiological Paradigm of Memory Formation and its Theoretical and Ethical Implications

Personal identity is a representation of what we know about ourselves, a set of narratives that address our past, present and future, and which constitutes our sense of continuity. Since the self is essentially a memory or more accurately a set of memories, in order to maintain a sense of self, one has to retain memories over time. However, the neurobiological model of memory claims that memory is in a continual state of change.

In the past researchers have claimed that memory stabilization takes place only once, however currently neuroscientists, who focus on the processes and mechanisms of learning and memory, show that memory traces are modified and reconstructed with use according to the interaction of the past with new perceptions of the present and according to future expectations. Our memory is modified over time either by additional facts, new experiences or retrieval in new contexts. Memories are reactivated or reconstructed each time a new to regain their meaning. That is a memory trace of an event undergoes modifications without that these modifications will be considered as errors or fabrications.

However, if it is indeed true that stored memories are continually being revived and revised as a part of normal brain activity, this poses new theoretical and ethical problems.

What does the neurobiological model of memory entail in terms of how we conceive and relate to our self identity?

If memories are modified as a part of normal brain activity, this fundamentally changes our self perception and the question arises regarding our illusion of constant memories and persistent sense of self.

What does the neurobiological model of memory entail in terms of the ethics of memory enhancement and memory erasure?

The neurobiological paradigm of memory formation, which helps us understand how memories are established and maintained in the brain, guides the development of new drugs and behavioural methods which alter specific autobiographical memories. This might be used to erase unwanted memories or enhance desire ones. Therefore, understanding the neurobiological paradigm will enable us to consider deeply how and in what way memory manipulations are a kind of extension of natural memory process or whether they are a disturbance of natural process of memory.

Personal data

Bachelor degree in Film and Television in the faculty of Arts at Tel Aviv university and Master in General and comparative literature at the Tel Aviv University. During the master studies I studied in Tuebingen in German department and wrote the thesis under co-supervision of Prof. Menakhem Perry from Tel- Aviv University and Prof. Bernhard Greiner from Tuebingen University. From April 2007 to March 2009 I was writing the doctoral thesis at the IZEW Tuebingen.

Contact

National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, 34-54 Poplar Road, Parkville Victoria 3052, Australia.
Phone: +61 3 8387 2305, FAX: +61 3 9387 4030

E- mail: tzofitofengenden[at]yahoo.com
http://www.mednwh.unimelb.edu.au/