Can you erase bad memories? The real-world ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ technology

Could science fiction become reality?

In 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Jim Carrey’s character undergoes a memory-erasing procedure to forget his ex.

But while the procedure seemed far-fetched at the time, technology has gotten us closer to the possibility of wiping painful memories from our minds — or at the very least, making them less painful.

According to Dr. Jonathan Rasouli, a neurosurgeon at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, there are three cutting-edge methods that can “mute” and “dampen” traumatic memories, and they’re being used to help people with depression and PTSD.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

“TMS is like wireless jumper cables for your brain — but a lot more precise,” Rasouli told The Post.

“It’s a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic fields (like MRI) to stimulate specific parts of the brain, usually targeting areas involved in mood regulation.”

Patients have a magnetic coil placed on their scalp, which sends pulses to specific areas of the brain.

“It is primarily used for treatment-resistant depression, but researchers are now exploring its impact on memory recall, emotional processing and addiction,” Rasouli added.

According to the doc, the theory — still in the early stages of testing — is that targeting certain brain circuits can change how people access their memories.

He said that in the future, it could help people reshape memory associations — “but probably limited to clinical settings rather than do-it-yourself memory deletion kits.”

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

DBS is a “brain pacemaker” which is currently used to treat Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, epilepsy, OCD and major depression.

Small electrodes are implanted directly into specific areas of the brain, where they send electrical impulses to the structures that are involved in movement and mood.

“Some studies show DBS can influence emotional memory, reward processing and even reduce traumatic recall — but again, it’s very early days,” said the doc.

In the future, it could theoretically be used to “mute” traumatic memories, “but it’s invasive and unlikely to become a casual outpatient procedure anytime soon,” he added.

Propranolol Therapy

Popranolol is a beta-blocker medication that’s usually prescribed to treat high blood pressure — but researchers have also found that it can “dampen the emotional ‘punch’ of memories” and be used for therapeutic purposes.

“This is probably the closest real-world analog to the Eternal Sunshine concept — but no actual memory deletion,” said Rasouli.

Instead of making you forget the memory entirely, this “sleeper hit” makes it feel less vivid or depressing.

“When taken before recalling a traumatic event, propranolol reduces the intensity of the emotional response, essentially ‘reconsolidating’ the memory with less emotional weight,” the doc explained.

“It has been used for experimental treatments of PTSD, anxiety and phobias.”