How EMDR Works in the Brain
By Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
Scientists don't know how psychotherapy works neurobiologically in the brain, but they do know what happens when someone is under stress.
When a person is upset, his or her brain cannot process information as it does ordinarily. Moment becomes frozen in time and remembering a
traumatic incident may feel as bad as going through it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, and feelings haven’t changed.
Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way a person sees the world and the way they relate to other people.
Experts in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing have a difficult time explaining exactly how in works. This is primarily
because the process of EMDR is a marriage between psychology and neurobiology. In other words, EMDR simultaneously effects
the brain and the mind. The following represents some theories on how EMDR works.
Repetitive eye movements or certain other forms of similar stimulation are thought to bring submerged memories
into awareness by altering communication between the right and left sides of the brain. In neurologically healthy
people, the left hemisphere orchestrates a coherent personality and view of the world by folding
new experiences into preexisting beliefs and assumptions; psychological defenses such as denial
and repression assist this left-brain effort. In contrast, the right hemisphere acts as a devil's
advocate that, when necessary, bursts through defenses and organizes a revision of the internal status quo.
Evidence indicates that electrical activity in the right and left hemispheres of the brain becomes more synchronous
following successful EMDR. Improved communication between brain hemispheres caused by the alternating activation
that occurs during EMDR is thought to break through conditioned fear responses uncovering the original trauma.
EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes specific information.
After an EMDR session, normal information processing is resumed and the person no longer relives the images,
feelings, or other undesired emotions. The person still remembers what happened, but events or things that were originally
disturbing tend to be less upsetting. Many types of therapy have similar goals.
EMDR appears to be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
Therefore, EMDR is a physiologically based psychotherapy that helps a person to see disturbing material in a new
and less distressful way.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
Bronner, M. B., Beer, R., Jozine van Zelm van Eldik, M., Grootenhuis, M. A., Last, B. F. (2009). Reducing acute stress in a 16-year old using trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Dev Neurorehabil, 12(3), 170-174.
Fredricks, R. (2008). Healing & wholeness: Complementary and alternative therapies for mental health. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse.
Letizia, B., Andrea, F., & Paolo, C. (2007). Neuroanatomical changes after eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, 19(4), 475-456.
Maxfield, L. (2003). Clinical implications and recommendations arising from EMDR research findings. Journal of Trauma Practice, 2, 61-81.
Maxfield, L., Shapiro, F., & Kaslow, F. W.. (2007). Handbook of EMDR and family therapy processes. New York: Wiley.
Otani, T., Matsuo, K., Kasai, K., Kato, T., & Kato, N. (2009). Hemodynamic responses of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in posttraumatic stress disorder. Neurosci Res, Sep 1. [Epub ahead of print]
Rodenburg, R., Benjamin, A., de Roos, C., Meijer, A. M., & Stams G, J. (2009). Efficacy of EMDR in children: A meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev, 29(7), 599-606.
Shapiro, F. (1995). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: basic principles, protocols, and procedures. New York: Guilford Press.
Shapiro F, & Maxfield L. (2002). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Information processing in the treatment of trauma. J Clin Psychol, 58, 933-948.
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