Military Working To Restore Memories of Traumatic Brain Injury Victims Through An Implant

While millions of Americans will suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) this year, those serving in the military are at a greater risk than most of becoming the victim of such an injury. With more and more information surfacing regarding the serious ramifications these injuries can have on a soldier or veteran’s health, focus is beginning to shift to finding new and better ways to treat TBIs.
One way the military is looking to repair memory loss caused by a TBI is through a brain implant. According to an article from Newsweek, the device is known as the Restoring Active Memory (RAM) program and is under development by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The aim of the device is to restore both motor memories—those created out of repetitive actions or behaviors—and the thoughts of things that have happened in the past, which are known as declarative memories.
Researchers say the device works by stimulating the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This can bridge damaged gaps between that section of the organ and the hippocampus where memories are created.
Ethical issues may hinder development of the device though, as it would also be capable of erasing or inserting memories into the mind of a soldier.
At Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers, our team of St. Louis personal injury lawyers have seen the devastating results a TBI can have on its victim and we are anxious to see how this piece of technology is developed over time.