EMDR's neurobiological mechanisms of action: A survey of 20 years of searching

Abstract

Historically, mechanisms of action have often been diffi cult to ascertain. Thus far, the defi nitive discovery of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)'s underlying mechanisms has been equally elusive. We review the neurobiological studies of EMDR, as well as the theoretically driven speculative models that have been posited to date. The speculative theoretically driven models are reviewed historically to illustrate their growth in neurobiological complexity and specifi city. Alternatively, the neurobiological studies of EMDR are reviewed with regard to their object of investigation and categorized as follows: fi ndings before and after EMDR therapy (neuroimaging and psychophysiological studies) and fi ndings during the EMDR set (psychophysiological, neuroimaging, and qEEG studies). © 2010 EMDR International Association.