Question for those skilled in psychopharmacology and related disciplines...

[avevale_intelligencer]

...not really relating to anything I'm writing at the moment, though it may be useful in some later project depending on the answer.

Suppose one wanted to do something, and subsequently conceal the fact of having done it from someone who could read one's mind. Would taking something like Rohypnol prior to doing it have the desired effect? In other words, does that sort of drug prevent the formation of memory, or simply block it?

Comments

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

To the best of my knowledge, drugs that cause anterograde amnesia (i.e. going forward in time from administration of the drug to when it wears off) prevent formation of the memory. There may be some subconscious impressions, but in my knowledge and experience there's nothing available to conscious recall. OTOH, by the time there's enough effect from the drug for the amnestic effect to be in full force, you're not up for much other than lying around in a (very comfortable, content) heap.

Personal experience: Versed (midazolam, a benzodiazepine (same class as Valium)) for an upper GI endoscopy - I remember them injecting the drug, I have one brief hazy memory just after that of them turning me on my side and placing the bite block, and then I woke up an hour later. Memories of the intervening events? None whatsoever. Which was, in fact, the idea.

Professional credentials: MD (not currently in practice). Adjunct Instructor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago College of Pharmacy. (I teach/help teach calculations, dosage forms, and biopharmaceutics topics to people who are training to be pharmacists.)

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

Did a little bit more reading - the current hypothesis is that amnestics interfere with the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term storage. Basically, you create the memory, but instead of transferring it to storage it just gets written over. So I wouldn't expect that your hypothetical telepath could recover anything.

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

That's what I wanted to know. Thank you!

Clean thinking

[themis1.livejournal.com]

See Alfred Bester: The Demolished Man. (It's actually my favourite book, and I was rather pleased to notice it's had a recent reprint).

Not drugs, but I'm willing to bet his blocking method would work!!

Re: Clean thinking

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

DAMMIT, now you've got it rolling around my brain!

||: Eight, sir, seven, sir, six, sir, five, sir,
Four, sir, three, sir, two, sir, one!
Tenser, said the tensor,
Tenser, said the tensor,
Tension, apprehension, and dissension have begun!
[RIFF] :||

Re: Clean thinking

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

See also Rude Awakening.

Re: Clean thinking

[themis1.livejournal.com]

Hee!

... but at least now nobody can eavesdrop on your thoughts :-)

Re: Clean thinking

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Anyone who tried to eavesdrop on my thoughts would have a tough time picking out the actual thought from the noise. I know I do.