Body memory

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This article is about the hypothesis of unconscious extra-cerebral memories. For unconscious cerebral memories, see implicit memory.
Not to be confused with muscle memory.
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Body memory (BM) is a hypothesis that the body itself is capable of storing memories, as opposed to only the brain. While experiments have demonstrated the possibility of cellular memory[1] there are currently no known means by which tissues other than the brain would be capable of storing memories.[2][3]

Modern usage of BM tends to frame it exclusively in the context of

PTSD.[4]

Overview

Peter Levine calls BM

traumatic memory consequence and resolution:[5]

  1. Learned motor actions - Action patterns that can be continuously modified over time by higher brain regions.
  2. Emergency response - Hardwired instinctual behaviors (i.e., fight or flight response, etc...).
  3. Attraction or repulsion - We are attracted to sources of nourishment and growth and repulsed from sources of injury or toxicity.

Nicola Diamond elaborates on the opinion of philosopher

Merleau-Ponty and asserts that BM is formed by doing. Whether practicing a bodily activity or forming a reaction to a traumatic memory.[6]

Edward Casey speaks of BM as, "memory intrinsic to the body, how we remember by and through the body", rather than what is remembered about the body.[7]

Thomas Fuchs defines 6 different types of BM: procedural, situational, intercorporeal, incorporative, pain, and traumatic memory. He notes that they are not strictly separable from one another but "derived from different dimensions of bodily experience.[8]: 12  Michelle Summa further refines this definition as an implicit memory. A pre-thematic, operative consciousness of the past expressed through the body.[8]: 30 

Antonio Damasio calls these reactions to memories somatic markers or emotions that are expressed primarily as physical feelings.[9]

These memories are often associated with

repressed memories, in which memories of incest or sexual abuse can be retained and recovered through physical sensations.[2] It may also be associated with phantom limb sensation but this is less common.[10]

Skepticism

In 1993, Susan E. Smith, presented a paper relating the idea of "Survivor Psychology" at a

repressed memories or incest and sexual abuse amnesia is body memories." and "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"[2]

A 2017 systematic review of cross-disciplinary research in body memory found that the available data neither largely support or refute the claim that memories are stored outside of the brain and more research is needed.[11]

In the Encyclopedia of Phenomenology Embree notes that, "To posit body memory is to open up a

Pandora's Box", and links the idea to physical associations of memory rather than as a memory stored in a bodily manner.[12]

Cellular memory

Cellular memory (CM) is a parallel hypothesis to BM positing that memories can be stored outside the brain in all cells.

psychotropic drug."[14]

Flatworms

Biologists at

flatworms despite the loss of the brain and head. This may show memory stored in other parts of the body in some animals.[15] A worm reduced to 1/279th of the original can be regrown within a few weeks and be trained much quicker to head towards light and open space for food, an unnatural behavior for a flatworm. With each head removed training times appear reduced. This may just be a sign of epigenetics showing the appearance of memory.[16]

However, in the 1950s and 1960s

hormones and shows no evidence for memory transfer. Similar experiments with mice being trained and being fed to untrained mice showed improved learning. It was not a memory that was transferred but hormone enriched tissue.[17]

Current usage and research

See also:
Immune memory

In epigenetics there are various mechanisms for cells to pass on "memories" of stressors to their progeny. Strategies include Msn2 nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling, changes in chromatin, partitioning of anti-stress factors, and damaged

macromolecules between mother and daughter cells.[18]

In

immunity
research.

References

  1. doi:10.1038/scientificamericanmind0515-14b
    . Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Smith, Susan E. (1993). "Body Memories: And Other Pseudo-Scientific Notions of "Survivor Psychology"". Issues in Child Abuse Accusations. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  3. ISBN 1-57230-828-1
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1-101-60830-2
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1-58394-995-5
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-470-77816-6
    .
  7. ISBN 978-0-253-11431-0
    .
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-90-272-1350-1
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0-429-91143-9
    .
  10. S2CID 165404
    .
  11. PMID 28826604
    .
  12. ISBN 978-94-015-8881-2
    .
  13. ^ a b Carroll, Robert Todd. "cellular memory". skepdic.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  14. ^ TransplantNation. Douglas Vincent. pp. 9–. GGKEY:H80NKZZSRW7.
  15. PMID 23821717
    .
  16. ^ Anthony, Sebastion (11 July 2013). "Decapitated worms can regenerate their brains, and the memories stored inside". Extremetech. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  17. ^
    ISBN 978-1-84901-030-6
    .
  18. PMID 29846762
    .
  19. PMID 15978522
    .
  20. PMID 29729109
    .
  21. PMID 29842944
    .
  22. PMID 26688349
    .

External links
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