National Post

Drug could help ease memories: study
New research from the University of Montreal suggests a drug that reduces a stress hormone linked to recall could potentially “overwrite bad memories.” The study, reminiscent of the 2004 Jim Carrey film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, could offer hope for people suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, researchers say.

The school announced on Thursday results of the study involving the drug, metyrapone. The substance reduces levels of cortisol, a stress hormone associated with memory recall, the researchers said. It’s theorized that by reducing a person’s level of cortisol just before retrieving a memory, doctors can make the memory less painful for the person in the future.

Photo: A scene from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. (Focus Features/Reuters)