Bilateral stimulation
Bilateral stimulation is the use of visual, auditory, or tactile external stimuli occurring in a rhythmic side-to-side pattern.[1]
Bilateral Stimulation Effects
Research has indicated that horizontal eye movement effects memory; improving episodic memory retrieval and reducing false memories,[2][3] and reducing the vividness and emotional valence for both positive and negative autobiographical memories.[4][5][6][7] These effects have been shown to be achieved by horizontal eye movements, and also by alternating headphone beeps (although with less effect than eye movement).[8][9] However the quality of these results has been questioned.[10]
Eye movement has been found to improve communication between the brain hemispheres.[11][12] This may cause the memory impacts above,[11][13] and give benefits in handling difficult tasks,[14] and in emotional processing.[15][16]
Bilateral eye movements have been found to reduce asymmetries in hemispheric activation,[17] and increase coherence,[18][19] although others question this finding,[20] and one study found a reverse result.[21] Asymmetry in hemisphere activity has been found to be associated with depression,[22][23] anger,[24] and anxiety.[25]
One 2018 contribution questioned whether eye movements could facilitate accepting false information about an event.[26] However others have rejected this concern.[27]
Role of Bilateral Stimulation in EMDR
Bilateral stimulation is a core element of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a common treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While the client thinks about distressing memories and feelings, the therapist uses external stimuli to facilitate bilateral stimulation.[28] The treatment originally used only left-to-right eye movements as the bilateral stimulus but other forms of stimuli, often physical vibration in combination with binaural sounds, are now commonly being used as alternatives. Proponents of EMDR therapy hypothesize that bilateral stimulation assists clients in the processing of painful or traumatizing memories.[29] In the most common form of treatment, the client focuses on a traumatic memory and the negative thoughts or feelings associated with that memory. The client then follows with their eyes while the therapist moves their finger or some other object in front of them from left to right. Alternatively, the therapist may choose to use other types of bilateral stimuli. The hypothesis is that doing this allows the client to access and reprocess negative memories, eventually leading to decreased psychological arousal associated with the memory.[30] Therapy then focuses on fostering a positive belief or emotion in the client.[29]
Types of bilateral stimulation
Eye movements are the main form of bilateral stimulation used for EMDR. Originally EMDR used only visual stimuli and the resulting eye movements to facilitate the therapy process. The creator of EMDR therapy, Francine Shapiro, postulated that eye movements in particular were a necessary part of the treatment. However, research found similar efficacy using other types of stimulation and other stimuli are now commonly used by EMDR practitioners.[5] These alternative stimuli include auditory stimuli that alternate between left and right speakers or headphones, and physical stimuli such as tapping of the therapist’s hands.[31]
References
- ^ Shapiro, Francine; Solomon, Roger M. (2010). "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing". The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. pp. 547–552. doi:10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0337. ISBN 978-0-470-47921-6.
- ^ Brunyé, Tad T.; Mahoney, Caroline R.; Augustyn, Jason S.; Taylor, Holly A. (August 2009). "Horizontal saccadic eye movements enhance the retrieval of landmark shape and location information". Brain and Cognition. 70 (3): 279–288. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2009.03.003.
- ^ Christman, Stephen D.; Propper, Ruth E.; Dion, Adam (December 2004). "Increased interhemispheric interaction is associated with decreased false memories in a verbal converging semantic associates paradigm". Brain and Cognition. 56 (3): 313–319. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2004.08.005. PMID 15522769.
- ^ Barrowcliff, Alastair L; Gray, Nicola S; Freeman, Tom CA; MacCulloch, Malcolm J (June 2004). "Eye-movements reduce the vividness, emotional valence and electrodermal arousal associated with negative autobiographical memories". Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology. 15 (2): 325–345. doi:10.1080/14789940410001673042.
- ^ a b Jeffries, Fiona W.; Davis, Paul (29 October 2012). "What is the Role of Eye Movements in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? A Review". Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy. 41 (3): 290–300. doi:10.1017/S1352465812000793. PMID 23102050. S2CID 33309479.
- ^ Christman, Stephen D.; Propper, Ruth E.; Dion, Adam (December 2004). "Increased interhemispheric interaction is associated with decreased false memories in a verbal converging semantic associates paradigm". Brain and Cognition. 56 (3): 313–319. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2004.08.005.
- ^ Nieuwenhuis, Sander; Elzinga, Bernet M.; Ras, Priscilla H.; Berends, Floris; Duijs, Peter; Samara, Zoe; Slagter, Heleen A. (February 2013). "Bilateral saccadic eye movements and tactile stimulation, but not auditory stimulation, enhance memory retrieval". Brain and Cognition. 81 (1): 52–56. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2012.10.003.
- ^ van den Hout, Marcel A.; Engelhard, Iris M.; Rijkeboer, Marleen M.; Koekebakker, Jutte; Hornsveld, Hellen; Leer, Arne; Toffolo, Marieke B.J.; Akse, Nienke (February 2011). "EMDR: Eye movements superior to beeps in taxing working memory and reducing vividness of recollections". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 49 (2): 92–98. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.11.003. PMID 21147478.
- ^ de Jongh, Ad; Ernst, Robert; Marques, Lisa; Hornsveld, Hellen (December 2013). "The impact of eye movements and tones on disturbing memories involving PTSD and other mental disorders" (PDF). Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 44 (4): 477–483. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.07.002. PMID 23892070.
- ^ Roberts, Brady R. T.; Fernandes, Myra A.; MacLeod, Colin M.; Manelis, Anna (27 January 2020). "Re-evaluating whether bilateral eye movements influence memory retrieval". PLOS ONE. 15 (1): e0227790. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227790. PMC 6984731. PMID 31986171.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ a b Propper, Ruth E.; Christman, Stephen D. (November 2008). "Interhemispheric Interaction and Saccadic Horizontal Eye Movements: Implications for Episodic Memory, EMDR, and PTSD". Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. 2 (4): 269–281. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.2.4.269.
- ^ Christman, Stephen D.; Propper, Ruth E. (2009). "Episodic memory and interhemispheric interaction: Handedness and eye movements". In Davies, Graham M.; Wright, Daniel B. (eds.). Current Issues in Applied Memory Research. Psychology Press. pp. 185–205. ISBN 978-1-135-26343-0.
{{cite book}}
: External link in
(help); Unknown parameter|chapterurl=
|chapterurl=
ignored (|chapter-url=
suggested) (help) - ^ Christman, Stephen D.; Propper, Ruth E.; Dion, Adam (December 2004). "Increased interhemispheric interaction is associated with decreased false memories in a verbal converging semantic associates paradigm". Brain and Cognition. 56 (3): 313–319. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2004.08.005.
- ^ Hoptman, Matthew J.; Davidson, Richard J. (1994). "How and why do the two cerebral hemispheres interact?". Psychological Bulletin. 116 (2): 195–219. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.116.2.195. PMID 7972590.
- ^ Independent and Collaborative Contributions of the Cerebral Hemispheres to Emotional Processing, Elizabeth R. Shobe1, Front Hum Neurosci. 2014; 8: 230. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00230, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4001044/
- ^ Hierarchical Brain Networks Active in Approach and Avoidance Goal Pursuit, Jeffrey M. Spielberg, Wendy Heller, Gregory A. Miller, Front Hum Neurosci. 2013; 7: 284. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00284, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684100/
- ^ Christman, S., & Garvey, K. (2001, September ). Bilateral eye movements reduce asymmetries in hemispheric activation. Paper presented at the 2001 EMDR International Association Conference, Austin, TX. Christman, S., & Garvey, K. (2003, February, https://emdria.omeka.net/items/show/18478 and elsewhere
- ^ Changes in brain connectivity following exposure to bilateral eye movements, Jessica I. Fleck⁎, Robert Olsen, Michael Tumminia, Francesco DePalma, John Berroa, Abigail Vrabel, Shannon Miller, Brain and Cognition 123 (2018) 142–153, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2018.03.009
- ^ The Effects of Bilateral Eye Movements on EEG Coherence When Recalling a Pleasant Memory, Brandon Keller, Larry Stevens, Colleen Lui, James Murray, Matthew Yaggie Northern Arizona University, Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, Volume 8, Number 3, 2014, http://www.efpe.fr/assets/keller-2014-the-effects-of-bilateral-eye-movements-on-eeg-coherence-when....pdf
- ^ Samara, Zoe; Elzinga, Bernet M.; Slagter, Heleen A.; Nieuwenhuis, Sander (9 March 2011). "Do Horizontal Saccadic Eye Movements Increase Interhemispheric Coherence? Investigation of a Hypothesized Neural Mechanism Underlying EMDR". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00004. PMC 3089996. PMID 21556274.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Propper, Ruth E.; Pierce, Jenna; Geisler, Mark W.; Christman, Stephen D.; Bellorado, Nathan (September 2007). "Effect of Bilateral Eye Movements on Frontal Interhemispheric Gamma EEG Coherence". The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 195 (9): 785–788. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e318142cf73. PMID 17984782.
- ^ Videbech, P. (January 2000). "PET measurements of brain glucose metabolism and blood flow in major depressive disorder: a critical review". Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 101 (1): 11–20. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.101001011.x. PMID 10674946.
- ^ Bruder, Gerard E. (2004). "Frontal and Parietotemporal Asymmetries in Depressive Disorders: Behavioral, Electrophysiologic, and Neuroimaging Findings". In Hugdahl, Kenneth; Richard J. (eds.). The Asymmetrical Brain. MIT Press. pp. 719–742. ISBN 978-0-262-58254-4.
{{cite book}}
: External link in
(help); Unknown parameter|chapterurl=
|chapterurl=
ignored (|chapter-url=
suggested) (help) - ^ Propper, Ruth E.; Januszewski, Ashley; Christman, Stephen D.; Brunyé, Tad T. (September 2011). "Increased Anger is Associated With Increased Hemispheric Asymmetry". The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 199 (9): 716–720. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e318229d95a. PMID 21878789.
- ^ Compton, Rebecca J.; Mintzer, David A. (2001). "Effects of worry and evaluation stress on interhemispheric interaction". Neuropsychology. 15 (4): 427–433. doi:10.1037/0894-4105.15.4.427. PMID 11761031.
- ^ Houben, Sanne T. L.; Otgaar, Henry; Roelofs, Jeffrey; Merckelbach, Harald (29 March 2018). "Lateral Eye Movements Increase False Memory Rates". Clinical Psychological Science. 6 (4): 610–616. doi:10.1177/2167702618757658.
- ^ Lee, Christopher William; de Jongh, Ad; Hase, Michael (22 March 2019). "Lateral Eye Movements, EMDR, and Memory Changes: A Critical Commentary on Houben et al. (2018)". Clinical Psychological Science. 7 (3): 403–404. doi:10.1177/2167702619830395.
- ^ Verstrael, Sietse; van der Wurff, Peter; Vermetten, Eric (July 2013). "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as Treatment for Combat-Related PTSD: A Meta-Analysis". Military Behavioral Health. 1 (2): 68–73. doi:10.1080/21635781.2013.827088.
- ^ a b "What is EMDR? | EMDR Institute – EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING THERAPY". www.emdr.com. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
- ^ Boccia, Maddalena; Piccardi, Laura; Cordellieri, Pierluigi; Guariglia, Cecilia; Giannini, Anna Maria (21 April 2015). "EMDR therapy for PTSD after motor vehicle accidents: meta-analytic evidence for specific treatment". Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 9: 213. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00213. PMC 4404810. PMID 25954183.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Rodenburg, Roos; Benjamin, Anja; de Roos, Carlijn; Meijer, Ann Marie; Stams, Geert Jan (November 2009). "Efficacy of EMDR in children: A meta-analysis". Clinical Psychology Review. 29 (7): 599–606. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.008. PMID 19616353.