Wanna play in the 'Dollhouse'?

By: Lacey Gilleran

Posted: 4/30/09

Imagine knowing that you could erase your mind for five years. During those five years your mind would be imprinted with different personalities and you would be rented out to a paying customer. However, after your five years was up, you would not remember a thing and would be set financially for the rest of your life. Would you do it?

Well, the characters on the television show "Dollhouse" do just those things. The show is about an illegal organization that houses hundreds of people constantly having their memories erased and imprinted with new personalities. Rich or well-connected customers can then "rent" the people for whatever jobs they need the individual to do. It can range from being a lover, to an assassin, or even to assist in a robbery.

This science fiction show is from creator Joss Whedon, the mind that produced such popular shows as "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", "Angel", and "Firefly." Naturally his adoring fans have followed him to this show on FOX on Fridays at 9 PM.

The show contains many actors seen in his other shows as well. In particular, the show stars Eliza Dushku who was in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." She is also the producer of the show.

It appears the "Dollhouse" craze has hit Sacred Heart University and has students talking.

Sophomore Michelle Bostley got hooked to the show after one episode and is just enthralled by its originality.

"I think it's a well thought out show," said Bostley. "But if it was real I'd probably be terrified because there would be no way of knowing who is real. Who you could trust?"

Junior Kyle Bush shared similar thoughts.

"I could see why people would want that…to be able to be someone different for a while," said Bush. "But being rented out to people is not okay in my book…I wouldn't want to be someone else for that long and forget everything in my life."

The concept of the show is so technical is seems that it is completely possible. So is it?

Sacred Heart University Associate Professor of psychology Mindy Miserendino ensures that the show is purely just entertainment.

"It's an interesting idea for a TV show, but completely impossible and unrealistic," said Miserendino. "Science fiction usually predates real science, and in this case the idea of memory erasure and reprogramming is way ahead of our reality."

She went on to explain the knowledge that the science world has now about memory of the human brain.

"Permanent and extensive memory loss, a 'wiping the slate clean' which sounds like the idea in the TV show, is more like we see in neurodegenerative diseases like dementia," said Miserendino. "Memory loss that extensive is caused by loss of brain structures that are important for memory, and once those structures are physically and permanently damaged or lost, formation of new memories isn't possible."

Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Thomas Terleph also helped to clear up some mind-erasing mishaps.

"There are cases of memory loss, often a result of brain injury, where some autobiographical memory is lost yet much of an individual's intellectual ability and immediate verbal memory remain intact," said Terleph. "But these phenomena are often irreversible. The reprogramming part, particularly in regards to the programming of memories, is currently not possible."

Television, movies, and books, are able to often take our minds into different worlds, however is it possible that they are reflecting society?

"Science fiction stories may reflect society in many ways, but not very often as accurate predictors of near-future technological advancements," said Terleph. "In fact, historically most science fiction has done a rather poor job of predicting future trends in science and technology."