The irrepressible Michael S., back from anabiosis, said:

> It has been reported that a patient undergoing brain surgery 
> to relieve his Parkinson's symptoms began recalling events 
> long thought to be forgotten.It is implied that the future of Alzeimers
> research may involve some form of brain surgery. 

to which Stuart McKelvie asked the usual:

> Michael: 
> 
> Where? 
> 
> Reference, please. 

For the case Michael is likely referring to, the surgery was for obesity, 
not Parkinson's. It consisted of placement of  stimulation electrodes in 
the hypothalamus (an unjustified, dangerous, and irresponsible procedure, 
in my opinion). But the authors did elicit some unverified apparent 
memories of 30 years earlier, said to be vivid and detailed. And they did 
make, again in my opinion, an unwarranted claim that this "finding" could 
be used to treat Alzheimer's.

It was published in the Annals of Neurology:

Memory enhancement induced by hypothalamic/fornix deep brain stimulation 
Clement Hamani, Mary Pat McAndrews, Melanie Cohn, Michael Oh, Dominik 
Zumsteg, Colin M. Shapiro, Richard A. Wennberg, Andres M. Lozano
Published Online: Jan 29 2008, (p 119-123)

I posted about it on Jan 31 with the heading "Alzheimer's breakthrough? 
[I thought not] and with this link to a news item on it:
http://tinyurl.com/34tevq

Stephen
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Stephen L. Black, Ph.D.          
Professor of Psychology, Emeritus   
Bishop's University                e-mail:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
2600 College St.
Sherbrooke QC  J1M 1Z7
Canada

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