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Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found gene that could help people forget traumatic experiences. They say research could benefit people with painful memories. Soldiers, crime victims and people who survived natural disasters are some of people this research could help. Many of these people suffer from very bad stress because of their memories. It is illness called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). scientists found memory gene in mice. They hope that one day they can erase painful memories in humans. They think they can replace upsetting memories with more positive thoughts and feelings. This would help millions of people who suffer from PTSD.

head researcher, Li-Huei Tsai, did many tests to make mice forget their fear. Scientists put mice into a cage and gave them small electric shock. After many shocks, mice became afraid of cage. They were stressed when they saw it. Once mice had "cage shock," scientists put mice in cage again but didn't give them electric shock. After period of time, mice no longer feared cage. Positive feelings replaced their stress and fear. scientists looked at brain activity when mice were afraid and when they were not afraid. They were surprised to find gene that replaced old memories with new ones. They will now try to find this gene in humans.