This article Sciencemag article was written by Nsikan Akpan talks about a new study that suggests a possible solution for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He explains new study with mice shows that it is possible to erase painful memories by modifying molecules that attach to DNA. To test this theory, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology created traumatic memories in the mice by putting them in an unfamiliar cage and giving them an electrical shock in their feet until they became terrified and froze when returned to the cage. Once the fear memory was instilled, researchers repeatedly returned the mice to cage either 24 hours or 30 days after the shock. The mice who were given the “behavior therapy” of 24 hours eventually stopped freezing suggesting that the memory of anxiety connected with the cage had been erased. But the mice who were returned after 30 days froze and remained afraid, showing that older memories were less forgettable. After studying the hippocampus, the mice’s brain region that is responsible for learning and memory, the researchers found that an enzyme, HDAC2 controls gene activity in the mice by nitrosylating to recall memories and therefore works as an on-and-switch for memory. When HDAC2 was switched off with a drug, older traumas were wiped away.
Askpan's primary purpose of the article is to describe a new scientific breakthrough to the readers. Although he does explain biological processes to the readers, he uses a lot of scientific vernacular so the article is most likely directed towards an audience who has some background knowledge about biology. To prove his purpose he runs through the steps of the experiment and explains the connection between the scientists' theory and their results to verify the study. However, this article was more of a scientific report than an "opinion" article.
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