PALO ALTO, CA — A recent study conducted by scientists at Stanford University has revealed the increase in the suicide rate over the past five years may be related to Savr, the popular Neuralink app released during that same time span. Savr uses in-built cameras and supplemental brain storage space to enable complete photographic memory for users of the brain-computer interface (BCI) app. Of course, Savr users have the ability to delete any unwanted memories that may cause pain or trauma. However, findings from the Stanford study indicate that it may be the replaying of positive memories that is leading to higher rates of depression and suicide.
Following a painful breakup or the death of a loved one, Savr users often erase the negative memories associated with those events but retain the positive highlights, reliving them over and over again in vivid detail, as if watching a movie of their own life. This only makes the users miss their former loved ones more, increasing their depression over having lost them. Psychologists have termed this condition Total Recall Disorder (TRD).
Dr. Irene Funes, a Stanford neuroscientist involved with the study, has theorized that it might be evolutionarily beneficial for humans to have imperfect memories. “The human brain has more than enough space already,” Dr. Funes said. “If total recall was advantageous to survival, humans would have evolved the trait—yet eidetic memories are extremely rare.” She suggests that for optimal emotional well-being, it is helpful to forget certain experiences and reconfigure the past in our minds. Therefore technology such as Savr that enables users to remember everything precisely as it happened may cause more harm than good. It might be more psychologically beneficial to remember things as you want to remember them rather than as they actually were.
There is growing evidence that Savr also contributed to the skyrocketing divorce rates over the past five years. Users will often re-play conversations to prove their partners wrong during fights, which instead of resolving disputes, only escalates the tension. Despite some pressure to ban the app, Savr will continue providing its photographic memory service to Neuralink users. To address concerns of TRD, the company has announced plans to include a free AI therapist with their app to help guide users through any mental stress and emotional trauma caused by Savr.