Body memory
Body memory is a hypothesis that the body itself is capable of storing memories, as opposed to only the brain. This is used to explain having memories for events where the brain was not in a position to store memories and is sometimes a catalyst for repressed memory recovery. These memories are often characterised with phantom pain in a part or parts of the body – the body appearing to remember the past trauma. The idea of body memory is a belief frequently associated with the idea of repressed memories, in which memories of incest or sexual abuse can be retained and recovered through physical sensations.[1] The idea is pseudoscientific as there is no known means by which tissues other than the brain are capable of storing memories.[1][2]
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[edit] Proposed mechanism, hypothesis
Recent research shows that organs like the heart have intrinsic nervous systems (ICNS); small nervous networks to control themselves.[3][4]
[edit] Cellular memory
Cellular memory is an additional hypothesis that memories can be stored outside the brain. However, unlike body memory, the cellular memory hypothesis states that these memories are stored in all the cells of human bodies, not in the bodies’ organs.[5] The idea that non-brain tissues can have memories is also believed by some individuals who have received organ transplants, though this is also considered impossible.[5]
[edit] Skepticism
In 1993, a psychologist Susan E. Smith, in a paper – which was first presented at a false memory syndrome Conference – relating to the idea of "Survivor Psychology", stated that:
"body memories are thought to literally be emotional, kinesthetic, or chemical recordings stored at the cellular level and retrievable by returning to or recreating the chemical, emotional, or kinesthetic conditions under which the memory recordings are filed. She wrote in the abstract of the paper that "one of the most commonly used theories to support the ideology of repressed memories or incest and sexual abuse amnesia is body memories." [1]
Smith makes her position clear when she goes on to say:
"The belief in these pseudoscientific concepts appears to be related to scientific illiteracy, gullibility, and a lack of critical thinking skills and reasoning abilities in both the mental health community and in society at large"[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Smith, SE (1993). "Body Memories: And Other Pseudo-Scientific Notions of "Survivor Psychology" ". Issues in Child Abuse Accusations 5 (4). http://www.ipt-forensics.com/journal/volume5/j5_4_2.htm.
- ^ Scott O. Lilienfeld SO; Lynn SJ; Lohr JM, ed. (2002). Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology. The Guilford Press. ISBN 1572308281.
- ^ J. Yasha Kresh; J. Andrew Armour (1997). "The heart as a self-regulating system: integration of homeodynamic mechanisms". Technology and Health Care 5 (1-2): 159–169.
- ^ Dr Paul Pearsall et al. The Heart's Code. Broadway Books. ISBN 0767999428.
- ^ a b Carroll, RT (2009-02-23). "Cellular Memory". The Skeptic's Dictionary. http://skepdic.com/cellular.html. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
[edit] External links
- Cellular memory hints at the origins of intelligence, Nature, dated 23 January 2008
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