Mémoire.
Introduction:
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In this short discussion I will discuss about 3 classes of "memory"
modulators:
A.Cannabinoids
B.Benzodiazepines
G.Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid(Gamma-OH,4-OHB,GHB)
The structure of Memory
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Through an original research I have discovered that biological
memories of complex organisms,like mammals,are organised in
basic,fractal-like,structures of which the reiterative elements are
called M.H.Vs(Motifs Homologiquement Variants),in French,which can be
translated,into English,as "Patterns of Homologuous
Variations"(see:http://dog.net.uk/claude)
These MHVs are organised in such a way so as to put clear
physiological
limits on what is possible or not possible in memory modulation and
recall.
For instance,what we call "consciousness" can only exist within a
limited range of metabolic activity.
If the metabolic activity going on in MHVs is too low we
cannot,then,properly recall our memories.
If the metabolic activity going on in MHVs is too high then
consciousness "radiates"within those MHVs giving rise to progressive
pseudo-amnesia.
Recalls can exist only within strict limits:
The lower metabolic limit is called "le Seuil Sérotoninergique" or the
"serotoninergic threshold".
The higher metabolic limit is called "le Seuil d'Illusion" or the
"illusion threshold".
Within these limits consciousness is tightly linked to Time.
The "medium" metabolic activity between these 2 limits is called the
Base-Line Level.
Recall,between these limits varies as a function of time because
consciousness and the duration of a conscious recalled event
are,reciprocally,linked.
The lower awareness is and the longer consciousness extends in time.
The higher awareness is and the shorter consciousness extends in time.
This means that "infinite" recall cannot exist and that,in
consequence,no drug will ever be invented which would give us
"infinite" recall(meaning a high dregree of selective recall).
The impossibility of a high dregree of recall is established by the
existence of the illusion threshold.
When this threshold is reached recalls do not proceed anymore
sequentially but "move" in between the very basic structure of MHVs in
a star-like pattern(on diagrams!).
This movement of recalls and consciousness through MHVs is called
"Consciousness Radiation".
When consciousness radiates an individual can no longer properly
remember his memories to the point of even forgetting about his own
identity,like in schizophrenia!
In fact,schizophrenia is a state of "radiating consciousness".
"Amnesia" to the outside observer is not,necessarily,a true objective
amnesia!
When consciousness nears either within the serotoninergic threshold or
the illusion threshold this gives rise(to an outside observer)to
"amnesia".
But,in fact,true amnesia(the impossibility to recall because you
cannot access to your stored memories)exists only when one approaches
the serotoninergic threshold!
When one approaches the illusion threshold one has,in fact,endogenous
hypermnesia...
Why? Because consciousness starts to radiate more and more and can
thus explore more and more MHVs.
The problem is that,as one nears this illusion threshold,the duration
of consciousness within a given period of time
becomes,progressively,smaller and smaller.You have a
hyperconsciousness but on a very short interval of time only...
This can be very well endogenously observed with cannabinoids such as
THC.
In fact,as one nears to the illusion threshold,recalls become more and
more abundant and appear with clarity in the mind.But this is done at
a cost:the cost of the available duration of consciousness.
As you become more and more hypermnesic and explore inner MHVs you
have,unfortunately,less time to recall your observations and write
them down because,at some point,your consciousness radiates so well in
some MHVs that you cannot go back to the previous MHVs!
This gives rise to "amnesia" to an outside observer.But this "amnesia"
is not a true amnesia because,in fact,you forget your recalls because
you have too many recalls in a very short interval of time.You
forget,paradoxically,because of hypermnesia!!!
Modulating recalls and Alzheimer disease
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Cannabinoids with agonistic properties,such as THC,are,in fact,memory
enhancers but they cannot be used,clinically,because they
are,paradoxically,too efficient!
NMDA antagonists,such as Ibogaine or Ketamine,are also memory
enhancers but maybe even stronger than agonistic cannabinoids!
I have,experimentally,found that it was possible to modulate recall
through the proper combination of a bendoziazepine(such as
lorazepam,for instance)and a cannabinoid(such as THC,for instance).
Why?
Because benzodiazepines cause amnesia by diminishing consciousness
radiation while cannabinoids cause amnesia by enhancing consciousness
radiation.
In fact it is quite extraordinary to observe on yourself how you can
modulate your recall abilities by combining these two classes of
drugs.
If we can modulate recalls without falling into the trap of either the
serotoninergic threshold or the illusion threshold,with combinations
of benzodiazepines and cannabinoids in normal people,it might be
possible to do the same in Alzheimer patients.
Cannabinoid derivatives with weak activity might well enhance recalls
in Alzheimer patients!
We could also imagine molecules with both benzodiazepine activity and
cannabinoid activity.
All this remains to be tested...
Enhancement of recalls with Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate
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Gamma-OH is a molecule which has a lot of yet unexplored psychotropic
properties.
One of its interesting properties is that it clearly enhances memories
associated with emotions.
For instance,events experienced under Gamma-OH in the past can
be,strongly,reexperienced while again under Gamma-OH.
Why?
This remains to be studied!
Maybe the study of this interesting phenomenon might lead to novel
drugs enhancing recalls and with possible applications in Alzheimer
disease.